Opinion ID: 1258931
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Evidence of the lesser offense.

Text: To mandate an instruction on a lesser included offense, there must be some evidence, no matter how weak or incredible, such that, if believed, it would support a conviction on the lesser offense. [2] Ruland v. State, 102 Nev. 529, 531, 728 P.2d 818, 819 (1986); Williams v. State, 99 Nev. 530, 531, 665 P.2d 260, 261 (1983); see Hillis v. State, 103 Nev. 531, 535, 746 P.2d 1092, 1094 (1987) ([w]hen there is no evidence at trial tending to reduce the greater offense, an instruction on a lesser offense may be properly refused); Block v. State, 95 Nev. 933, 936, 604 P.2d 338, 340 (1979) (instruction is necessary where there is any evidence at all, however slight, of the lesser offense). The record contains evidence suggesting that Walker did not intend to kill Darrett, Hines, and Synagogue. Testimony was elicited at trial that Walker was very, very close to the three victims when he was shootingcloser than a car-length. Yet, Walker never hit any of the victims. Testimony was also elicited that, at one point, the direct line of fire between Walker and the victims was through and between gas pumps, and yet no gas pumps were hit. There was further testimony that, though the three victims were hiding behind their car to avoid Walker's shots, and at least one of the victims was peering through a window watching Walker advance, the car was never hit. Finally, Walker did not chase the three victims farther than the edge of the parking lot. We therefore conclude that there is sufficient evidence which, if believed, would support a finding that Walker did not intend to kill the three victims and would therefore support a conviction on the lesser included offense of assault with a deadly weapon. We conclude that the district court erred in refusing to submit to the jury Walker's requested instruction on assault with a deadly weapon. Assault with the use of a deadly weapon is a lesser included offense of attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon, and defense counsel elicited evidence at trial which, consistent with the defense's theory of defense, would have supported a conviction for assault with the use of a deadly weapon instead of attempted murder. Accordingly, a jury instruction as to assault with the use of a deadly weapon should have been given. We have carefully considered all other contentions of error on appeal and we conclude that they either lack merit or need not be further addressed. Since we cannot conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury would not have convicted Walker of assault with the use of a deadly weapon rather than attempted murder had the instruction been given, we reverse Walker's three convictions for attempted murder and remand the case for a new trial. YOUNG and SHEARING, JJ., concur.