What is the test for instructing a jury on a lesser included offense in a sexual assault case?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Rouse, H034647 (Cal. App. 2012):

"A criminal defendant has a constitutional right to have the jury determine every material issue presented by the evidence, and an erroneous failure to instruct on a lesser included offense constitutes a denial of that right. To protect this right and the broader interest of safeguarding the jury's function of ascertaining the truth, a trial court must instruct on an . . . offense that is less serious than, and included in, a . . . greater offense . . . , whenever there is substantial evidence raising a question as to whether all of the elements of the charged greater offense are present." (People v. Huggins (2006) 38 Cal.4th 175, 215.) Thus, " ' "such instructions are required whenever evidence that the

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defendant is guilty only of the lesser offense is 'substantial enough to merit consideration' by the jury. [Citations.] 'Substantial evidence' in this context is ' "evidence from which a jury composed of reasonable [persons] could . . . conclude[ ]" ' that the lesser offense, but not the greater, was committed." ' [Citation.] The classic formulation of this rule is expressed in People v. Webster [1991] 54 Cal.3d 411, 443: 'When there is substantial evidence that an element of the charged offense is missing, but that the accused is guilty of a lesser included offense, the court must instruct upon the lesser included offense. . . .' " (Ibid.)

Other Questions


For the purposes of section 1108.2(1) of the California Criminal Code, is there any constitutional error in a trial court's decision to instruct the jury in a sexual assault case to consider the use of sexual assault evidence admitted under Section 1108? (California, United States of America)
Is there any case law supporting the argument that the assault with a deadly weapon is not a lesser included or lesser included crime? (California, United States of America)
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In what circumstances will a prosecutor increase the sexual assault charge against a defendant to include additional sexual assault charges? (California, United States of America)
Is there any reason to exclude evidence of sexual assault prior to the trial of defendant in his sexual assault case? (California, United States of America)
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In what circumstances will the trial court instruct on lesser included offenses in a case where a police officer was killed during a pursuit by a robber? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for a jury to consider whether to consider the lesser included charge of attempted voluntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense of attempted premeditated murder? (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)
Does the law of the case doctrine preclude a litigant from seeking a writ of appeal against a finding that the trial judge was an impartial judge who failed to instruct on lesser included offenses? (California, United States of America)
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