State v. Sanchez

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s conviction, rendered after a jury trial, for deliberate homicide and several other offenses. The district court sentenced Defendant to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Defendant appealed, arguing that the district court relieved the State of its burden to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by giving jury instruction number twelve stating that “when circumstantial evidence is susceptible to two interpretations, one that supports guilt and one that supports innocence, the jury determines which is most reasonable.” The Supreme Court disagreed, holding that, considering all the instructions, the disputed instruction did not adversely affect Defendant’s substantial rights. View "State v. Sanchez" on Justia Law