Opinion ID: 1900698
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jury instructions guilt phase

Text: Griffin argues that the trial judge erred when she omitted three sentences from the standard jury instructions on first degree murder. [2] He specifically claims fundamental error in the omission of a sentence instructing that premeditated intent to kill must be formed before the killing. While it is certainly best to include this sentence, we find no error here. Every sentence of the paragraph defining premeditation inherently instructs that the intent must arise at some indeterminate time before the killing. Likewise, the two introductory sentences which were omitted merely state there are two ways to convict for first degree murder. Since the information conveyed in the introduction is patently obvious from the remainder of the instructions, which were given, the instruction was inessential in this case. Defense counsel failed to object at trial, and the omission does not constitute fundamental error. State v. Bryan, 287 So.2d 73, 75 (Fla. 1973), cert. denied, 417 U.S. 912, 94 S.Ct. 2611, 41 L.Ed.2d 216 (1974): What is important is that sufficient instructions  not necessarily academically perfect ones  be given as adequate guidance to enable a jury to arrive at a verdict based upon the law as applied to the evidence before them.