Opinion ID: 1668593
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Defense counsel should have requested a jury instruction on accomplice testimony.

Text: David Primeaux, Freeman's accomplice, testified at trial that Freeman stole the automobile. Although defense counsel tried unsuccessfully to prevent Primeaux's testimony, she did not request an instruction concerning accomplice testimony. The criminal pattern jury instructions contain a representative instruction for such situations. See Criminal Pattern Jury Instruction 1-14-8. It would have done no harm to Freeman's defense to request such an instruction. Therefore, it cannot be said that defense counsel made a reasonable tactical decision not to request an instruction on accomplice testimony. See Grooms v. State, 320 N.W.2d 149, 152 (S.D.1982) (We cannot envision an advantage which could have been gained by withholding a request for this instruction).