Opinion ID: 2584053
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: the jury instruction on premeditation fairly and adequately stated the law

Text: Sheahan argues that the instruction for premeditation misstated the law as it improperly focused the jurors' inquiry on whether his act was a mere unconsidered and rash impulse to the exclusion of other acts short of premeditation. Also, he argues that it was reversible error not to include in the instruction that premeditation includes a weighing of the consequences of one's actions.
The propriety of jury instructions is a question of law over which this Court exercises free review. Clark v. Klein, 137 Idaho 154, 156, 45 P.3d 810, 812 (2002). When reviewing jury instructions, this Court must determine whether the instructions, as a whole, fairly and adequately present the issues and state the law. Silver Creek Computers, Inc. v. Petra, Inc., 136 Idaho 879, 882, 42 P.3d 672, 675 (2002). An erroneous instruction does not constitute reversible error unless the instructions, when taken as a whole, misled the jury or prejudiced a party. Id. at 882, 42 P.3d at 675; State v. Nath, 137 Idaho 712, 716, 52 P.3d 857, 861 (2002). In addition, a defendant may not challenge on appeal the failure to give a jury instruction that was not requested at trial, unless the failure constitutes fundamental error. State v. Gomez, 126 Idaho 83, 85, 878 P.2d 782, 784 (1994). Fundamental error is that error which so profoundly distorts the trial that it produces manifest injustice and deprives the accused of his constitutional right to due process. State v. Mauro, 121 Idaho 178, 180, 824 P.2d 109, 111 (1991) (quoting State v. Morris, 116 Idaho 834, 836, 780 P.2d 156, 158 (Ct.App.1989)).
The alleged omissions in the jury instruction definition of premeditation were not requested by the defense at trial. The defendant's requested jury instructions included no definition for the term premeditation. Regardless, the instruction in this case fairly and adequately states the law. Instruction 13(a) included the following definition for premeditation: Premeditation means to consider beforehand whether to kill or not to kill, and then to decide to kill. There does not have to be any appreciable period of time during which the decision to kill was considered, as long as it was reflected upon before the decision was made. A mere unconsidered and rash impulse, even though it includes an intent to kill, is not premeditation. It was not error for the district court to use this instruction. The Idaho Supreme Court has approved the exact premeditation language used in instruction 13(a) as a pattern jury instruction. See I.C.J.I. 705; State v. Avila, 137 Idaho 410, 414, 49 P.3d 1260, 1264 (Ct.App.2002).