What is the test for instructing a jury on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Prettyman, 14 Cal.4th 248, 58 Cal.Rptr.2d 827, 926 P.2d 1013 (Cal. 1996):

In People v. Hood (1969) 1 Cal.3d 444, 82 Cal.Rptr. 618, 462 P.2d 370, the defendant was charged with assault with a deadly weapon upon a police officer. In determining whether the trial court had a sua sponte duty to instruct on the lesser included offense of assault with a deadly weapon, the court had to determine "whether the evidence in this case clearly indicated [the officer] might not have been engaged in the performance of his duties or that defendant might not have known or had reason to know that he was so engaged." (Id., at p. 450, 82 Cal.Rptr. 618, 462 P.2d 370, italics added.) In other words, the duty to instruct arose not from the nature of the charge in the abstract but from the particular facts adduced at trial raising the possibility of a factual defense. In People v. Bevins (1960) 54 Cal.2d 71, 77, 4 Cal.Rptr. 504, 351 P.2d 776, "the testimony as to the circumstances surrounding the manner [926 P.2d 1037] in which defendant's confession was obtained was in direct conflict, thus [requiring the trial court] to submit to the jury for its determination under proper instructions the question whether under all the circumstances the confession was made freely and voluntarily." (Italics added; see also People v. Wilson (1967) 66 Cal.2d 749, 759, 59 Cal.Rptr. 156, 427 P.2d 820 ["Under the evidence

Page 851

Other Questions


Does a jury's acquittal of an assault with a deadly weapon constitute an acquittal on the assault charge or a finding of not guilty of assault with deadly weapon? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for determining whether a prior assault with a deadly weapon was an assault with deadly weapon or an assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury? (California, United States of America)
Is a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon reduced from assault with deadly weapon to simple assault? (California, United States of America)
Does a jury have to consider the definition of "deadly weapon" in their instructions to the jury on the crime of assault with a deadly weapon? (California, United States of America)
How has the jury been instructed on the definition of a deadly weapon in the context of the enhancement of the charge of assault with a deadlyweapon? (California, United States of America)
If a defendant is convicted of a lesser charge of a greater charge of sexual assault, is the lesser charge necessarily included in the greater charge? (California, United States of America)
Can a defendant appeal his convictions for assault and assault against the Court of Appeal for failing to instruct the jury on personal use of a deadly weapon and personal infliction of great bodily injury enhancements? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for instructing a jury on a lesser included charge of assault with a deadly weapon? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for instructing a jury on a lesser included charge of assault with a deadly weapon? (California, United States of America)
Does the Attorney General have any authority or authority to instruct a jury to disregard an instruction in an assault case where the instruction had no antecedent in the facts? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.