Opinion ID: 1917246
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Failure To Grant Requested Instruction

Text: [11] In his last argument, the defendant asserts that the trial court erred when it failed to give his requested instruction to the jury, that a reasonable doubt may arise not only from the evidence produced, but also from a lack of evidence. The defendant relies on this court's decision in State v. Aubert, 120 N.H. 634, 421 A.2d 124 (1980). In that case, we held that a trial court's refusal to charge the jury on a party's theory of defense, if such theory is supported by some evidence, is reversible error. Id. at 635, 421 A.2d at 125. Unlike Aubert, the defendant here did not request a charge on a defense not mentioned in the court's original instruction. Rather, he in effect requested that the court elaborate on its reasonable doubt charge by instructing the jury that reasonable doubt may arise not only out of all evidence presented but also out of lack of evidence. [12] It is generally accepted that the trial court is not required to give such an instruction, but that it is within its discretion to do so. United States v. Caruso, 358 F.2d 184, 186-87 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 385 U.S. 862 (1966); see United States v. Smith, 602 F.2d 834, 838-39 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 902 (1979); Foran v. Metz, 463 F. Supp. 1088, 1092 (S.D.N.Y.), aff'd, 603 F.2d 212 (2d Cir. 1979). [13] The reasonable doubt charge, as given by the trial court, employed the language we require under State v. Wentworth, 118 N.H. at 838-39, 395 A.2d at 862-63. In its entirety, the instruction conveyed the correct concept of reasonable doubt. Id. at 837, 395 A.2d at 862; State v. Belkner, 117 N.H. at 471, 374 A.2d at 944; see also Foran v. Metz, 463 F. Supp. at 1092. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in declining to instruct the jury as requested. Exceptions overruled; affirmed.