Court Opinion

ID: 9547504
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:48:10.035253+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:17:49.074358
License: Public Domain

BROWN, J.,
specially concurring.
The Jahnke cases are reminiscent of the apocryphal accused who murdered his parents and then appealed to the court for mercy because he was an orphan. The news media latched on to these cases and carried a preposterous story of self-defense to the public with missionary zeal.
The court’s opinions here and in Jahnke v. State, Wyo., 682 P.2d 991 (1984), describe the elaborate plans made for the execution of the senior Mr. Jahnke. I do not recall that the newspapers said much about those elaborate plans. They delineated only a few circumstances surrounding the killing, then like a “refiner’s fire and Fuller’s soap” purified and sanctified Richard and Deborah Jahnke, who emerged heroes, worthy of praise. We have witnessed a remarkable feat of image building. The Richard Jahnke and Deborah Jahnke perceived by the public are an invention of the news media, and bear little resemblance to the persons who executed and aided in executing their father. The news media should bear a heavy burden for what they have done.
Juries and courts in this state will not buy into any story of self-defense as justifiable homicide when it is so patently unbelievable. Richard Jahnke, according to a jury of twelve citizens, was culpable. Deborah Jahnke was no less culpable than Richard. She did not pull the trigger, but she participated in the planning and was a *932backup if Richard failed in the execution. In one sense Deborah Jahnke was more culpable than Richard; she wanted to kill the mother also.
I therefore agree that this case should be affirmed. I differ slightly with the majority in its disposition of the lesser included offense issue. To be compatible with Balsley v. State, Wyo., 668 P.2d 1324 (1983), the majority had to determine that killing upon a sudden heat of passion “is not a true element of the offense of voluntary manslaughter.” The voluntary manslaughter statute, § 6-2-105, W.S.1977 (June 1983 Replacement), formerly § 6-4-107, W.S. 1977, seems to provide that (killing) “upon a sudden heat or passion” is an element of the crime of voluntary manslaughter. The committee which drafted the Wyoming Pattern Jury Instructions thought “upon a sudden heat of passion” was an element of voluntary manslaughter and set it out as element No. 4 of WPJIC, 7.502. District court judges traditionally instruct the jury that (killing) “upon a sudden heat of passion” is an element of voluntary manslaughter. The majority’s reasoning on this issue is logical, but I would prefer that the legislature determine the elements of a criminal offense rather than this court.
I agree that voluntary manslaughter is a lesser included offense in the crime of first degree murder; however, I would modify this court’s holding in Balsley. In that case the majority said:
“In summary, we hold that a crime described by statute may not be necessarily included within another statutory offense unless all of the elements within the claimed lesser offense are to be found in the greater, and unless the greater offense cannot be committed without also committing the putative lesser offense.” Id., at 1329.
In my concurring opinion in Balsley I attempted to point out that the “inherent relationship” test was a better test to determine lesser included offenses. I am concerned that the inflexible rule of the Balsley case will continue to plague us. I fear that in other criminal matters traditional lesser included offenses will not pass the Balsley test. In the case before us I would simply modify what the court said in Balsley and adopt the inherent relationship test as an additional test to determine lesser included offenses. Under the inherent relationship test I would find that voluntary manslaughter was a lesser included offense in the crime of first-degree murder.
The Jahnke juries found evidence of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, I hope the majority opinion and this concurrence sound a warning to those who would emulate the Jahnkes.