Opinion ID: 1163394
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Defense Theory of the Case Instructions

Text: In her fifth claim of error, Witt contends the district court violated her due process right to present her theory of the case when it denied her requested jury instructions numbers 6, 7, 8 and 11. [1] Her proposed jury instructions numbers 6 and 8 were similar and would have informed the jury that WYO. STAT. § 6-1-203 permits the introduction of expert testimony relating to the battered woman syndrome when the accused raised the affirmative defense of self-defense. [2] Her proposed jury instruction number 7 would have informed the jury that the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she did not act in self-defense. [3] A defendant has the right to have instructions on her theory of the case presented to the jury if the proposed instructions sufficiently inform the jury of the theory or defense and if competent evidence exists supporting the law expressed in the instructions. Amin v. State, 811 P.2d 255, 261 (Wyo.1991). The district court may, however, properly refuse a requested instruction, even if correct, where other instructions have sufficiently covered the principles of the requested instruction. Oien v. State, 797 P.2d 544, 547 (Wyo.1990). It is within the trial court's discretion to present its own instruction on the defendant's theory of the case or defense. Sanchez v. State, 694 P.2d 726, 729 (Wyo.1985). Upon review of the district court's instructions to the jury, we conclude the district court adequately instructed the jury on Witt's theory of the case. Witt alleged, as her theory of the case, that she acted in self-defense when she shot and killed her boyfriend. Jury instruction number 18 informed the jury of her self-defense claim and of her claim that she acted in self-defense after she had been subjected to mental and physical abuse over the course of her relationship with Ayers. Jury instructions 14 through 16 instructed the jury on the law of self-defense, including the state's burden of proving that she did not act in self-defense. The district court also adequately instructed the jury on the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof. Jury instructions numbers 3 and 11 informed the jury that the state carries the burden of proving the accused guilty, that that burden never shifts and that, after consideration of all the evidence, the jury must find all elements of the charged crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt. WYO.STAT. § 6-1-203 does not create a separate defense; it permits the introduction of expert testimony on the battered woman syndrome when the affirmative defense of self-defense is raised. Witt was permitted to introduce such testimony, and jury instruction number 18 informed the jury of her contention that she reasonably believed she was in danger because she suffered from battered woman syndrome. Her requested jury instructions informing the jury that WYO.STAT. § 6-1-203 permits expert testimony would not have provided any additional assistance to the jury in determining whether she acted in self-defense, and the district court did not abuse its discretion in rejecting those instructions.