Opinion ID: 1752541
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: issues concerning instructional error

Text: Appellant raises several points on appeal challenging the jury instructions at the guilt and penalty phases. Appellant first asserts that the trial court erred in submitting MAI-CR3d 302.04. The instruction states: A reasonable doubt is a doubt based upon reason and common sense after careful and impartial consideration of all the evidence in the case. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is proof that leaves you firmly convinced of the defendant's guilt. The law does not require proof that overcomes every possible doubt. If, after your consideration of all the evidence, you are firmly convinced that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged, you will find him guilty. If you are not so convinced, you must give him the benefit of the doubt and find him not guilty. MAI-CR3d 302.04. Relying on Cage v. Louisiana, 498 U.S. 39, 111 S.Ct. 328, 112 L.Ed.2d 339 (1990), appellant argues that the explanation of reasonable doubt contained in MAI-CR3d 302.04 sets the reasonable doubt standard higher than constitutionally permitted. This Court has previously examined MAI-CR3d 302.04 in light of Cage and found that the instruction properly explains the reasonable doubt standard. State v. Griffin, 848 S.W.2d 464, 469 (Mo. banc 1993). Appellant next asserts that the trial court plainly erred in submitting MAI-CR3d 313.04 because the instruction creates a risk of coerced decisions resulting in convictions for first degree murder. MAI-CR3d 313.04 states: If you do not find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree, you must consider whether he is guilty of murder in the second degree. Appellant relies on an Oregon Supreme Court decision, State v. Allen, 301 Or. 35, 717 P.2d 1178 (1986). In Allen, the court struck down a transitional instruction that allowed the jury to consider a lesser included offense only if the jury found the defendant not guilty  of the greater offense. Id. at 1179 (emphasis added). The court reasoned that the acquittal first instruction exacerbated the risk that those voting in the jury's minority would be coerced to vote with the majority. The Allen court approved an instruction that told the jury you should first consider the charged offense and, if you cannot agree on a verdict on the charged offense, you should then consider the lesser included offense. Id. at 1179, 1181 (emphasis added). Contrary to appellant's assertion, MAICR3d 313.04 is not an acquittal first instruction. Unlike the instruction struck down by the Oregon Supreme Court, Missouri juries do not have to find a defendant not guilty of the greater offense, first degree murder, before considering the lesser included offense, second degree murder. Instead, pursuant to MAI-CR3d 313.04, Missouri juries are allowed to consider the lesser included offense if they do not find the defendant guilty of the greater offense. The difference in terminology carries meaning. Under Oregon's acquit first instruction, a jury deadlocked on the greater charge could not consider the lesser included charge because, being deadlocked, they have not found the defendant not guilty of the greater offense. Under MAI-CR3d 313.04, however, a jury deadlocked on the greater offense has not found the defendant guilty on the greater charge, thus can consider the lesser included offense. Therefore, any coercive effect of an acquittal first instruction does not exist in MAI-CR3d 313.04. MAICR3d 313.04 properly instructs the jury on Missouri law. See §§ 565.025, 556.046. The trial court did not err in submitting MAI-CR3d 313.04; the instruction provides the proper transitional instruction to the lesser included offense of second degree murder. Appellant also asserts that the court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on felony murder. The second degree conventional murder instruction sufficiently tested the jury's belief of the elements of first degree murder; therefore, no prejudice exists. State v. Six, 805 S.W.2d 159, 164 (Mo. banc), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 112 S.Ct. 206, 116 L.Ed.2d 165 (1991); State v. Petary, 781 S.W.2d 534, 544 (Mo. banc 1989), vacated and remanded, 494 U.S. 1075, 110 S.Ct. 1800, 108 L.Ed.2d 931 (1990), reaffirmed, 790 S.W.2d 243 (Mo. banc 1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 973, 111 S.Ct. 443, 112 L.Ed.2d 426 (1990); State v. Griffin, 756 S.W.2d 475, 485 (Mo. banc 1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 1113, 109 S.Ct. 3175, 104 L.Ed.2d 1036 (1989). Appellant makes a bare assertion, unsupported by argument, that the trial court erred in overruling his motion challenging the constitutionality of § 565.030 and what appellant refers to as the applicable MAI instructions, MAI-CR3d 313.40, 313.41, 313.42, 313.44, 313.46, and 313.48. In connection with this claim, appellant complains of the trial court's rejecting his proposed non-MAI instructions. Because of appellant's failure to develop his claims, and because the instructions submitted by the court were properly submitted, this Court declines to address appellant's assertion. Appellant next contends that the trial court erred in refusing to submit six proposed mitigating circumstances instructions. He claims that the instructions correct constitutional deficiencies in the MAI instructions in that the proposed instructions seek to ensure that jury would consider all mitigating circumstances so that the jury could make a reliable sentencing determination. Because MAI-CR3d 313.44 adequately covers the jury's consideration of mitigating circumstances, the trial court properly submitted that instruction to the exclusion of appellant's non-MAI instructions. State v. Ervin, 835 S.W.2d 905, 922-23 (Mo. banc 1992), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 113 S.Ct. 1368, 122 L.Ed.2d 746 (1993); Rule 28.02(c). Appellant makes three specific arguments regarding his proposed mitigating circumstances instructions. First, appellant asserts that the court erred in refusing to submit an instruction listing nonstatutory mitigating circumstances. The trial court properly ruled. State v. Mease, 842 S.W.2d 98 (Mo. banc 1992), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 113 S.Ct. 2363, 124 L.Ed.2d 269 (1993); State v. Wacaser, 794 S.W.2d 190 (Mo. banc 1990); MAI-CR3d 313.44, Note on Use 6. Second, appellant asserts that the court erred in failing to submit his proposed instruction defining the term mitigation. Appellant is again incorrect. MAI instructions do not define mitigation; therefore, the court properly refused the proposed definition. State v. Feltrop, 803 S.W.2d 1, 14 (Mo. banc), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 111 S.Ct. 2918, 115 L.Ed.2d 1081 (1991). Finally, appellant asserts that the court erred in not submitting the statutory mitigating circumstance that he was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance. § 565.032.3(2), RSMo Supp.1993. The court properly refused the instruction because the evidence did not support its submission. State v. Parkus, 753 S.W.2d 881, 889 (Mo. banc), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 900, 109 S.Ct. 248, 102 L.Ed.2d 237 (1988). Although there was testimony that appellant had been using cocaine, cocaine use is not evidence of an extreme mental or emotional disturbance. Appellant argues that he was desperate for money to buy drugs, but desperation is not evidence of an extreme mental or emotional disturbance. Moreover, the court did submit a mitigating instruction on whether appellant's capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law was substantially impaired. § 565.032.3(6), RSMo Supp.1993. The submitted instruction properly instructed the jury and allowed the jury to decide any mitigating effect of appellant's alleged cocaine use. Appellant next asserts that the trial court erred in refusing to submit proposed instruction M which states: You may impose a life sentence for any reason or without having a reason. Appellant's assertion is meritless. The court submitted MAI-CR3d 313.46: You are not compelled to fix death as the punishment even if you do not find the existence of one or more mitigating circumstances sufficient to outweigh the aggravating circumstance or circumstances which you find to exist. You must consider all the circumstances in deciding whether to assess and declare the punishment at death. Whether that is to be your final decision rests with you. MAI-CR3d 313.46. The submitted MAI instruction tells the jury in unmistakable terms that it is never obliged to return a death sentence.... [and that] a juror may vote against a death sentence without having a reason. State v. Petary, 790 S.W.2d 243, 246 (Mo. banc), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 973, 111 S.Ct. 443, 112 L.Ed.2d 426 (1990). The court, therefore, correctly refused to submit appellant's proposed instruction. Rule 28.02(c). Appellant next asserts that the trial court erred in refusing to submit proposed penalty phase instructions that would have informed the jury that victim impact is an improper consideration in the sentencing decision. The trial court did not err in refusing to submit the non-MAI instruction. A jury may consider victim impact in making the sentencing decision so long as the victim impact evidence and argument is not unduly prejudicial. Payne v. Tennessee, 501 U.S. 808, 111 S.Ct. 2597, 115 L.Ed.2d 720 (1991); State v. Whitfield, 837 S.W.2d 503, 511 (Mo. banc 1992). The prosecutor's victim impact argument was not unduly prejudicial and the jury was entitled to consider it in making their sentencing decision. Appellant next asserts that it was plain error for the court to submit Instruction 10. The instruction stated: In determining the defendant's guilt or innocence, you are instructed that an intoxicated or a drugged condition whether from alcohol or drugs will not relieve a person of responsibility for his conduct. Appellant asserts that the instruction relieved the state of establishing the required mental state of deliberation beyond a reasonable doubt. In State v. Erwin, 848 S.W.2d 476 (Mo. banc), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct. 88, 126 L.Ed.2d 56 (1993), this Court held that the following instruction violated due process because it excused the state from proving the defendant's mental state beyond a reasonable doubt: You are instructed that an intoxicated condition from alcohol will not relieve a person of responsibility for his conduct. The instruction here is similar to the one struck down in Erwin; however, the Erwin holding was limited to cases tried in the future and cases subject to direct appeal where the issue had been preserved. Id. at 484. Appellant failed to preserve the issue. Gratuitous review reveals that error, if any, was harmless.