Opinion ID: 2575468
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Issue 7: Did the district court err in denying Pham's request for jury instructions on attempted aggravated kidnapping and attempted kidnapping?

Text: Pham requested jury instructions for attempted aggravated kidnapping and five counts of attempted kidnapping as lesser included crimes of aggravated kidnapping and five counts of kidnapping. The district court denied the request, noting that the facts indicate that Pham was either guilty of kidnapping and aggravated kidnapping, or he was guilty of nothing at all; there was no evidence reasonably supporting any lesser included offenses, including attempts. It stated: [T]hree men came into their home with guns drawn. The people in the home were collected from various parts of the home, made to lie down in one location and had their hands tied. One of the men told another to shoot them if they moved. One of the victims started to move or somehow or other made some movement. Two shots were fired. The victim died as a result of the two gunshot wounds. On appeal Pham only argues that the jury could have found him guilty of attempted aggravated kidnapping and attempted kidnapping because all six family members were able to free themselves from their bonds. Our standard of review is well known. When a defendant has requested a lesser included instruction at trial, the standard of review for failing to so instruct is whether the evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the defendant, supported the instruction. The instruction need not have been given if the evidence would not have permitted a rational factfinder to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the lesser included offense. State v. Jones, 279 Kan. 395, Syl. ¶ 1, 109 P.3d 1158 (2005). We agree with the district court. The uncontroverted evidence demonstrates that the crimes of kidnapping and aggravated kidnapping were completed before Pham and his fellow gunmen fled the Nguyen house. See K.S.A. 21-3420 ( e.g., kidnapping is the confining by force or threat with intent to hold a person to facilitate the commission of a crime) and K.S.A. 21-3421 (aggravated kidnapping is when bodily harm is inflicted upon the person kidnapped). As for Pham's specific contention that the crimes fell short of completion because the family members were able to free themselves, we observe that under Kansas law a victim's ability to escape does not mean that the act of kidnapping did not occur. In State v. Jackson, 238 Kan. 793, 800, 714 P.2d 1368 (1986), the defendant argued that the evidence of aggravated kidnapping showed only an attempt because he lacked sufficient control over the victim, i.e., he was not successful in getting the victim locked inside the trunk of his car. This court stated: The victim in the instant case was twice dragged by the appellant from inside the stables to the appellant's car, which was backed up to the door outside. While the appellant was not successful in getting her completely inside the trunk, it is clear she was under his control. The fact that the victim was able to escape does not prevent the appellant's conviction for aggravated kidnapping. 238 Kan. at 802. As a result, the court also rejected defendant's argument that the trial court erred in failing to instruct on attempted kidnapping. 238 Kan. at 803. See also State v. Little, 26 Kan. App. 2d 713, 718, 994 P.2d 645 (2000) (rejecting defendant's argument that because he did not do a very good job of binding the hands of the victim who was able to quickly escape from her bonds, he was entitled to a lesser included offense instruction to aggravated kidnapping and kidnapping). The district court's refusal to instruct on lesser included offenses to aggravated kidnapping and kidnapping was not error.