Opinion ID: 1112237
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: self-defense jury instructions.

Text: Estrada contends that Judge Mossman did not reread all the self-defense instructions requested by the jury so failed to adequately instruct the jury. State answers that the instructions read to the jury, as well as a complete written set of all the court's instructions, completely stated the applicable law. Jury instructions, as a whole, must correctly provide the controlling law. State v. Cordeira, 68 Haw. ___, 707 P.2d 373 (1985). Estrada, moreover, was entitled to an instruction on every defense or theory of the defense having any support in the evidence. State v. Russo, 69 Haw. ___, 734 P.2d 156 (1987). A clearly prejudicial instruction, however, cannot be cured by other proper instructions which do not call attention to the error. State v. Napeahi, 57 Haw. 365, 556 P.2d 569 (1976). Estrada complains Judge Mossman should have given defense instruction nos. 2 (use of force) and 3 (use of deadly force) instead of the court's instruction nos. 19 and 25 (formerly State's instruction nos. 8 and 15, respectively). The relevant instructions read: