Opinion ID: 2174661
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Evidence for an Instruction on a Lesser-Included Offense.

Text: If a court determines that an offense described in a requested instruction is a lesser offense included within a greater offense, then, under the two-step analysis and the cognate-evidence approach or method concerning a determination of greater and lesser-included offenses, a court must determine whether the evidence justifies an instruction on the lesser-included offense. `The test which must be applied in determining whether or not to submit a lesser-included offense is whether there is evidence which produces a rational basis for a verdict acquitting defendant of the offense charged and convicting him of the lesser offense.' State v. Tamburano, 201 Neb. 703, 707, 271 N.W.2d 472, 474 (1978) (quoting from State v. McDonald, 312 Minn. 320, 251 N.W.2d 705 (1977)). Thus, after a court has determined that the requested instruction is based on a lesser-included offense, the court must examine the evidence, generated by the State or the defendant, to determine whether the jury could reasonably acquit the defendant of the greater offense, but reasonably find the defendant guilty of the lesser-included offense. See State v. Massa, 242 Neb. 70, 493 N.W.2d 175 (1992). The preceding standard or rule for determining whether an instruction on a lesser-included offense should be given to the jury does not suggest that submission of lesser-included offenses is automatic on request. The key word in the standard or rule is reasonably, or, as expressed in State v. Tamburano, supra , a rational basis for an acquittal of the greater charge and a conviction of the lesser. As pointed out in State v. Williford, 103 Wis.2d 98, 111, 307 N.W.2d 277, 282 (1981): The rule does not suggest some near automatic inclusion of all lesser but included offenses as additional options to a jury. Only if `under a different, but reasonable view,' the evidence is sufficient to establish guilt of the lower degree and also leave a reasonable doubt as to some particular element included in the higher degree but not the lower, should the lesser crime also be submitted to the jury.... [Quoting from State v. Bergenthal, 47 Wis.2d 668, 178 N.W.2d 16 (1970).] Indeed, as noted in Boyer v. State, 91 Wis.2d 647, 668-69, 284 N.W.2d 30 (1979): [T]his court has on several occasion[s] pointed out that it is error to instruct the jury as to lesser offenses when the evidence does not so warrant. `The early cases point out and emphasize and we must stress again, because the question keeps recurring, that a determination of whether an instruction on a lesser included crime should be given to a jury is not solved by merely determining the crime charged includes the lesser offense because juries are not to be given the discretion or freedom to pick and choose what offense the accused should be found guilty of....' See, also, People v. Pouncey, supra (when evidence would support a conviction of the lesser offense, an instruction on the lesser-included offense is required, but, in the absence of evidence for a conviction of the lesser offense, the instruction should not be given); State v. Jeffries, 430 N.W.2d 728 (Iowa 1988) (a trial court examines all the evidence to determine whether there is a submissible question of fact for the jury with an instruction on a lesser-included offense); Moore v. State, 471 N.E.2d 684 (Ind.1984) (a trial court reviews the evidence to determine whether that evidence would support acquittal of the greater charge and conviction of the lesser); State v. Wilson, 701 P.2d 1058 (Utah 1985) (permissible instruction on a lesser-included offense requires evidential support for acquittal of the greater offense and conviction of the lesser); State v. Perkins, 353 N.W.2d 557 (Minn.1984) (a lesser-included offense instruction is warranted only if the evidence would rationally support a not guilty verdict on the greater offense and a guilty verdict on the lesser offense); State v. Skjonsby, 319 N.W.2d 764 (N.D.1982) (evidence must support an acquittal as to the greater offense and a conviction of the lesser). Even when an alibi or insanity defense is used or the defendant presents no evidence to rebut the greater offense charged, a lesser-included offense instruction is appropriate if the evidence adduced controverts an elevating element of the greater offense. See, State v. Massa, supra ; State v. Jeffries, supra . To establish reversible error from a court's refusal to give a requested instruction, an appellant has the burden to show that (1) the tendered instruction is a correct statement of the law; (2) the tendered instruction is warranted by the evidence; and (3) the appellant was prejudiced by the court's refusal to give the tendered instruction. State v. Reynolds, 235 Neb. 662, 691, 457 N.W.2d 405, 423 (1990). Accord, Renne v. Moser, 241 Neb. 623, 490 N.W.2d 193 (1992); Jensen v. Archbishop Bergan Mercy Hosp., 236 Neb. 1, 459 N.W.2d 178 (1990); State v. Pettit, 233 Neb. 436, 445 N.W.2d 890 (1989); Burns v. Veterans of Foreign Wars, 231 Neb. 844, 438 N.W.2d 485 (1989). When the evidence fails entirely to show a crime of lesser degree than that charged against a defendant, refusal to give a lesser-included offense instruction is not prejudicial error. See, State v. Narcisse, 231 Neb. 805, 438 N.W.2d 743 (1989); State v. Buster, 228 Neb. 387, 422 N.W.2d 373 (1988); State v. Brown, 225 Neb. 418, 405 N.W.2d 600 (1987); State v. Schwartz, 219 Neb. 833, 366 N.W.2d 766 (1985).