Opinion ID: 2633509
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Cumulative Prejudice from Guilt Phase Error

Text: Defendant contends the cumulative effect of errors in the guilt phase of trial was prejudicial and requires reversal. We disagree. Although we have assumed error in three respects (the trial court's instruction that the Wissel evidence could be considered as showing a common design or plan ( ante, pt. 1) and its failure to give requested instructions on claim of right ( ante, pt. 3) and heat of passion ( ante, pt. 4)), we found all three assumed errors harmless. The two omitted instructions, moreover, went to different jury findingsheat of passion to whether defendant harbored malice when he killed Miller, and claim of right to whether he killed Miller in the course of a robbery, attempted or complete. Any adverse effects of omitting these instructions therefore could not have added together. Nor can we see how the additional design or plan portion of the other-crimes instruction could have aggravated any effect of the omitted instructions on claim of right or heat of passion.