Court Opinion

ID: 9527493
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:31:02.732229+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:49.635229
License: Public Domain

DISSENTING OPINION
DeBruler, J.
—Over objection the court gave final Instruction No. 7 which stated:
*55“The failure of a defendant to appear for completion of his trial after the State has presented its case in prosecution of the defendant, is a circumstance which may be considered by you in connection with all the other evidence to aid you in determining his guilt or innocence.”
Appellant in his brief argues that there is no authority for the court to give such an instruction and contends that it is improper to give an instruction which authorized the jury to make an inference of guilt from the defendant’s absence from the trial. In this case the court received no explanation of the defendant’s absence and sought none. Under these circumstances appellant’s absence from the last part of the trial is wholly ambiguous and cannot support any inference regarding the accused’s guilt or innocence. This instruction created evidence where there was none, and was, therefore, clearly erroneous. A new trial should be ordered.
Note — Reported at 383 N.E.2d 307.