What is the test for a claim that a trial court failed to properly instruct the jury on the applicable principles of law?

A court must instruct the jury on the law applicable to each particular case. "[E]ven in the absence of a request, the trial court must instruct on the general principles of law relevant to the issues raised by the evidence. [Citations.]" (People v. St. Martin (1970) 1 Cal.3d 524, 531.) Therefore, a claim that a trial court failed to properly instruct on the applicable principles of law is reviewed de novo. (People v. Berryman (1993) 6 Cal. 4th 1048, 1089, disapproved on other grounds in People v. Hill (1998) 17 Cal.4th 800, 823.)

Analysis