Court Opinion

ID: 9471856
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:42:43.569416+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:42:36.736197
License: Public Domain

McMILLIAN, Circuit Judge,
concurring in the judgment.
A defendant is entitled to a theory of defense instruction if a timely request is made, the proffered instruction correctly states the applicable law and there is evidence to support it. In the present case the proffered defense instruction did not correctly state the applicable law, see supra p. 975 & note 1, and therefore was not a proper request. For this reason, I concur in the judgment.
Assuming for purposes of argument that a proper request for a theory of defense instruction had been made, I would reverse and remand for a new trial. First, I think that the erroneous refusal of a proper request for a theory of defense instruction is reversible error, unless the only claim of error raised on appeal is that a specifically worded instruction was refused. Second, I would not agree that the instructions given, considered as a whole, adequately advised the jury of the substance of appellant’s accidental discharge theory of defense. I would not agree that the intent instruction was sufficient.