Opinion ID: 1809444
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Jury Instruction on Definition of Accident

Text: Pruett contends that he was entitled to an instruction on the definition of accident. He requested that the jury be instructed, `Accident' shall mean a sudden event or change occurring without intent or volition through carelessness, unawareness, ignorance, or a combination of causes and producing an unfortunate result. Instead, the court instructed the jury using the following statutory definition of recklessly: Recklessly means acting with respect to a material element of an offense when any person disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the material element exists or will result from his or her conduct. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that, considering the nature and purpose of the actor's conduct and the circumstances known to the actor, its disregard involves a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a law-abiding person would observe in the actor's situation. The focus of the inquiry in this case is not whether the gun discharged accidentally. Instead, the question is whether Pruett was acting recklessly at the time the gun discharged. The threatening use of a firearm is an unlawful assault sufficient to convict a person of manslaughter when defined as causing the death of another unintentionally while in the commission of an unlawful act. State v. Drew, 216 Neb. 685, 344 N.W.2d 923 (1984). Thus, if a person is found to be acting recklessly at the time the gun discharged, whether the gun discharged by accident is not at issue and is not a defense to reckless assault. See, generally, id. at 688, 344 N.W.2d at 925 (the accidental discharge of a gun, the use of which was not justified under the circumstances, is not a defense to manslaughter when the killing occurred upon a sudden quarrel). The court properly instructed the jury regarding the elements of the offense and the definition of recklessly. We conclude that Pruett was not entitled to an instruction on the definition of the term accident.