Opinion ID: 1058117
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Right to Lesser-Included Offense Instructions

Text: The State asserts that the Court of Criminal Appeals erred in finding Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-18-110(c) unconstitutional because the statute does not preclude lesser-included offense instructions; it merely establishes reasonable procedures for invoking the right to those instructions. The State urges the Court to assume that the defendant in this case waived the right to an instruction on facilitation for tactical reasons, a decision which bound him. The State argues that, in any event, the trial court's failure to instruct on facilitation of second degree murder does not constitute reversible error. On the other hand, the defendant contends that the Court of Criminal Appeals correctly held Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-18-110(c) unconstitutional as violating a defendant's right to have a jury consider all lesser-included offense instructions supported by the evidence. The defendant also claims that this statute violates the separation of powers doctrine by removing a court's authority to correct such errors. Moreover, the defendant argues that because the evidence supported a finding that he facilitated the murder, the trial court committed reversible error in failing to instruct on that offense, thereby depriving him of a fair trial. In State v. Burns, 6 S.W.3d 453, 466-67 (Tenn.1999), the Court set forth the following test for determining what constitutes a lesser-included offense: An offense is a lesser-included offense if: (a) all of its statutory elements are included within the statutory elements of the offense charged; or (b) it fails to meet the definition in part (a) only in the respect that it contains a statutory element or elements establishing (1) a different mental state indicating a lesser kind of culpability; and/or (2) a less serious harm or risk of harm to the same person, property or public interest; or (c) it consists of (1) facilitation of the offense charged or of an offense that otherwise meets the definition of lesser-included offense in part (a) or (b); or (2) an attempt to commit the offense charged or an offense that otherwise meets the definition of lesser-included offense in part (a) or (b); or (3) solicitation to commit the offense charged or an offense that otherwise meets the definition of lesser-included offense in part (a) or (b). In addition, an offense can also be lesser-included if it is expressly so designated by the legislature. State v. Rush, 50 S.W.3d 424, 429 n. 4 (Tenn.2001). Whether a lesser-included offense must be charged in a jury instruction necessarily requires a two-step analysis. First, the trial court must determine whether an offense is a lesser-included offense under the Burns test; then, it must determine whether a charge is justified by the evidence. State v. Ely, 48 S.W.3d 710, 722 (Tenn.2001). The second step of this analysis requires a determination that: (1) reasonable minds could accept the offense as lesser-included; and (2) the evidence is legally sufficient to support a conviction for the lesser-included offense. State v. Wilson, 92 S.W.3d 391, 394 (Tenn.2002). First, both parties agree that facilitation of second degree murder is a lesser-included offense under part (c)(1) of the Burns test, and we agree also. Further, we conclude that the evidence could reasonably be interpreted to support a conviction for facilitation of second degree murder. The defendant's precise role in the beating of the victim is unclear. Carrie Jones testified that she saw the defendant hit the victim with a plank several times, but Woods testified that the defendant hit the victim only once with a plastic sign. The defendant's theory was that he hit the victim only once and that this blow did not cause the victim's death. Although this evidence is conflicting, it is sufficient to support, at the very least, a finding of facilitation of second degree murder.