Court Opinion

ID: 9861971
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 00:56:15.568765+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:29:52.835642
License: Public Domain

GIVAN, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion in this case, in that it holds that the trial court committed fundamental error by failing to instruct the jury that specific intent to kill is a requisite element of the crime of attempted murder. There is no question that the specific intent to kill must be present.
The error of the majority in this case is in finding that the trial court failed to so instruct. I find it incredible for the majority to hold that a jury could be confused when a judge instructs them that in order to be guilty of attempted murder they must find, among other things, "that the Defendant's conduct against DAVID ABEL constituted a substantial step toward the commission of the crime of murder." I fail to see how any reasonable person could be so instructed but yet believe that they could find appellant guilty of attempted murder but not be required to find that he intended to commit the crime of murder. It strains the credulity of one's reasoning to believe that one could be guilty of attempting to murder another person while at the same time not intending to kill him.
I would hold the instructions given by the trial court in this case are adequate. I would affirm the trial court.
PIVARNIK, J., concurs.