Opinion ID: 1678594
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Proffered Jury Instruction on Duress

Text: Appellant argues that the trial court erred in refusing to give AMCI 2d 606, the model jury instruction on the defense of duress. In support of his argument, Appellant contends that there was evidence that he had acted in self-defense. The State points out that the defenses of duress and self-defense are two different defenses, and that evidence that may support an instruction on self-defense will not necessarily support one on duress. The State argues that there was no evidence that Appellant acted under duress. We agree that the proffered instruction was not warranted by the evidence presented at trial. This court has repeatedly stated that if there is some evidentiary basis for a jury instruction, giving the same is appropriate. Yocum v. State, 325 Ark. 180, 925 S.W.2d 385 (1996); Mitchell v. State, 314 Ark. 343, 862 S.W.2d 254 (1993). A party is entitled to an instruction on a defense if there is sufficient evidence to raise a question of fact or if there is any supporting evidence for the instruction. Humphrey v. State, 332 Ark. 398, 966 S.W.2d 213 (1998) (citing Yocum, 325 Ark. 180, 925 S.W.2d 385). There is no error in refusing to give a jury instruction on a defense where there is no basis in evidence to support the giving of the instruction. Id. Arkansas Code Annotated § 5-2-208(a) (Repl.1997) provides for the affirmative defense of duress: (a) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution that the actor engaged in the conduct charged to constitute an offense because he reasonably believed he was compelled to do so by the threat or use of unlawful force against his person or the person of another that a person of ordinary firmness in the actor's situation would not have resisted. [Emphasis added.] Appellant did not testify at trial, nor did he present any witnesses in his defense. The only evidence of Appellant's defense was presented through his tape-recorded statement, which, at best, amounted to a claim of self-defense, as opposed to duress. As such, there was no evidentiary basis for instructing the jury on the affirmative defense of duress. Appellant seems to confuse the defense of duress with that of self-defense. Indeed, during the proffer below, Appellant's counsel stated that the instruction was being offered for the purpose that he did state that he was acting in self-defense in his statement and the conditions that they were under. Appellant did not request an instruction on self-defense. The trial judge refused to give Appellant's proffered instruction, stating that there was no aspect of duress or, for that matter, self-defense adduced during the trial. The trial court's ruling was not erroneous, as there was no basis in evidence to support Appellant's claim that he shot Mr. Hinkle under duress.