Cedrick Lorenzo Shuler v. United States , 98 A.3d 200 ( 2014 )

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT OF APPEALS
No. 13-CF-107
CEDRICK LORENZO SHULER, APPELLANT,
v.
UNITED STATES, APPELLEE.
Appeal from the Superior Court of the
District of Columbia
(CF1-11664-11)
(Hon. William M. Jackson, Trial Judge)
(Submitted June 6, 2014 Decided August 28, 2014)
Thomas T. Heslep was on the brief for appellant.
Ronald C. Machen Jr., United States Attorney, and Elizabeth Trosman,
Suzanne Grealy Curt, and David B. Goodhand, Assistant United States Attorneys,
were on the brief for appellee.
Before FISHER and BLACKBURNE-RIGSBY, Associate Judges, and KING,
Senior Judge.
BLACKBURNE-RIGSBY, Associate Judge: Following a jury trial, appellant
Cedrick Lorenzo Shuler was acquitted of the initial charge of first-degree murder
while armed, D.C. Code §§ 22-2401, -3202 (1981) (current versions at D.C. Code
§§ 22-2101, -4502 (2012 Repl.)), and convicted of the lesser included offense of
2
second-degree murder while armed, D.C. Code §§ 22-2403, -3202 (1981) (current
versions at D.C. Code §§ 22-2103, -4502 (2012 Repl.)), for the February 22, 1998,
fatal shooting of Renee Best. On appeal, appellant argues that the trial court
committed reversible error by: (1) giving a supplemental instruction on second-
degree murder for the first time during jury deliberations in response to a jury
question; and (2) reinstructing the jury on premeditation and deliberation,
transferred intent, and the obligation of the jury to acquit appellant of first-degree
murder before considering second-degree.1 We affirm.
1
Appellant further contends that the trial court erred by failing to sua
sponte address a ―dangerously inappropriate‖ closing argument made by the
prosecutor. Because an objection was never made at trial with regard to these
allegedly inappropriate remarks, the plain error standard applies — a ―stringent‖
standard that requires ―a showing of . . . error so clearly prejudicial to substantial
rights as to jeopardize the very fairness and integrity of the trial.‖ McGrier v.
United States, 597 A.2d 36, 41 (D.C. 1991) (citations and internal quotation marks
omitted); see also Hargrove v. United States, 55 A.3d 852, 858 (D.C. 2012) (citing
McGrier, supra, 597 A.2d at 41). Under this standard, ―reversal of a conviction
based on improper prosecutorial argument is appropriate only in a ‗particularly
egregious‘ case, when ‗a miscarriage of justice would otherwise result.‘‖ Id.
(citation omitted). Viewing the record, appellant cannot meet the strictures of
plain error review.
3
I. Factual Background
A. The 1998 Shooting
On February 22, 1998, in an attempt to avenge the killing of a close friend,
Hosea Stringfield, appellant Shuler asked his friend Alvin Barnes to ―go with him
to get,‖ i.e., kill, the alleged perpetrator, Walter Jones. They found Jones speaking
with Renee Best, an unrelated female, off the 4600 block of Hillside Road,
Southeast, Washington, D.C. With appellant leading the way, they walked through
an alley past bystanding eyewitness, Ricky Black. Upon approaching Jones and
Best, appellant inexplicably first shot Best in the face, which ultimately led to her
death. Although appellant also shot at Jones and managed to hit him in the leg,
Jones ultimately escaped. Afterwards, Barnes questioned appellant about why he
―shot the girl,‖ to which appellant replied: ―F*** it. It‘s over with.‖
4
B. The Trial
Thirteen years later, on June 22, 2011, a grand jury returned an indictment
charging appellant with first-degree murder while armed for the killing of Best.2
The jury trial commenced on October 1, 2012. The government‘s case relied
primarily on the eyewitness accounts of Barnes3 and Black,4 due to the age of the
murder. At the close of the government‘s case, the trial court outlined its proposed
jury instructions on first-degree murder, and neither party asked for an instruction
on second-degree murder.
During closing arguments, defense counsel sought to attack the credibility of
Barnes and Black. Specifically, to further emphasize the defense‘s theory at trial
2
Because of the thirteen-year delay and the statute of limitations, the only
charge that the government could bring was that of the homicide. In the same
indictment, Jones was also charged with the alleged murder of Stringfield, but his
case was eventually severed from appellant‘s.
3
Law enforcement personnel approached Barnes, who was serving a
sentence for a separate murder at the time, believing that he had witnessed Best‘s
murder. After consulting with his lawyer, Barnes agreed to plead guilty to Best‘s
murder and cooperate as a government witness.
4
Back in 1998, Black gave a signed statement to police as to what he saw
and identified a photograph of appellant as someone he saw coming through the
alley. However, he did not hear anything more from the authorities until 2011,
while serving an unrelated sixteen-year sentence in North Carolina.
5
that appellant was never at the scene of the crime, defense counsel insinuated that
the eyewitness testimony of Barnes and Black placing appellant at the scene could
not be trusted because Barnes and Black ―[were] receiving a benefit‖ and testified
―for compensation.‖
After closing arguments, the trial court proceeded to instruct the jury on the
charge of first-degree murder while armed, with instructions on the two alternative
theories of mens rea liability: (1) appellant intended to kill Best, or (2) the transfer
of appellant‘s intention to kill Jones to Best under the principle of transferred
intent.5 The trial court additionally instructed the jury on the ―beyond a reasonable
doubt‖ standard and witness credibility.
5
The trial court instructed the jury on the doctrine of transferred intent as
follows:
Transferred intent connects the mental state directed
towards an intended victim with the actual harm caused
to another victim. Accordingly, if the government proves
beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant fired a shot
specifically intending to kill . . . Jones but instead
actually killed . . . Best, an unintended victim, then by
operation of law the defendant‘s intent to kill is also
transferred from . . . Jones to . . . Best. This principle
applies whether or not the intended victim is also killed,
injured or harmed or whether or not the intended victim
is even identified.
6
During jury deliberations, the jury submitted numerous questions regarding
the charge and the applicable law. A few hours into deliberations,6 the jury sent
the court its first note, which included two questions about the possibility of
considering a lesser included offense:
Is there any chance that we could reach a verdict on a
related, but lesser offense, or is the offense charged the
only one we can decide?
If we conclude that Mr. Shuler had intent to commit
serious bodily injury (but we are not convinced that he
had intent to kill), does that satisfy the elements of the
crime?
Based on this note, the trial court stated that it was ―inclined to give a lesser
included of [second-degree murder] while armed‖ instruction as an answer to the
jury‘s question, and inquired if either party objected. Defense counsel objected,
stating that ―had [he] known that the lesser included second degree [murder
instruction] was going to be included, it is highly possible that [he] would have
argued some of the facts in closing argument a little different[ly] or . . . added
something.‖ However, the government retorted: ―Well, the theory of [the
defense‘s] case was that Mr. Shuler wasn‘t there.‖ The trial court agreed with the
6
The record does not reveal precisely how long the jury had been
deliberating before it posed its question regarding the lesser included offense, but
we can safely conclude that the jury had been deliberating for no more than four
hours by the time it sent the note.
7
government, noting that ―the defendant‘s theory was that he wasn‘t even there and
that he didn‘t do it,‖ and that defense counsel, ―on the issue of first degree
premeditated murder[,] . . . didn‘t even argue the elements.‖ The trial court was,
therefore, unconvinced that an instruction on the ―lesser included [offense] of
second degree murder would have changed [appellant‘s] argument.‖ With the
government agreeing that ―the [c]ourt is correct that it has the discretion‖ to give
the instruction, the trial court instructed the jury that they could ―go on to consider
second degree murder while armed‖ as a lesser included offense ―[i]f [they] find
[appellant] not guilty of first degree . . . murder while armed.‖
The following day, the jury again communicated with the trial court, this
time asking if it could ―proceed to consider‖ second-degree murder if it had not yet
reached a verdict on first-degree murder. The trial court responded, with the
parties‘ agreement, by sending a note to ask whether the jurors ―believe that
they‘ve made all reasonable efforts to reach a unanimous verdict‖ on first-degree
murder. The jury did not immediately respond to this question. However, later
that afternoon, the jury sent another note asking:
We have a question about the meaning of the principle of
transferred intent. If the shot that killed Renee Best was
never intended to hit or kill [Jones], does transferred
intent apply? The question concerns the possibility that
8
Renee Best was shot on purpose but in an unpremeditated
way.
While discussing with the parties about how to answer this question, the trial court
noted: ―The principles of transferred intent apply to both first degree . . . and
second degree murder. . . . But I don‘t know where they are, quite frankly.‖
Noting that the jury had yet to respond to the pending ―reasonable efforts‖
question, and that the question specifically mentioned the ―possibility that . . . Best
was shot . . . in an unpremeditated way,‖ the trial court and both parties became
concerned that the jury had begun to consider second-degree murder without
resolving first-degree. The trial court thus called the jury back into the courtroom
to explain that it could not answer their question regarding transferred intent until
they answered the earlier question regarding ―reasonable efforts.‖
The next morning, the jury answered that ―they were still in deliberations
about first degree murder.‖ However, the jury additionally informed the court that,
because their ―question about transferred intent [wa]s relevant‖ to their
deliberations about first-degree murder, they have halted further deliberations to
await the court‘s response to that question. At this point, the trial court believed
that the jury was confused about the law because their transferred intent question,
having specifically referenced the possibility that Best was shot ―in an
9
unpremeditated way,‖ ―involved second-degree murder, which [the jury] should
not . . . [consider] if they haven‘t resolved the issue of first-degree murder.‖ While
discussing the issue with the parties, the trial court emphasized that it ―need[ed] to
be careful‖ and avoid ―steering [the jurors] one way or the other,‖ and proposed
that the ―safest way of answering their question‖ was to ―give them the
instruction[s] again on premeditation and deliberation and on transferred intent.‖
Defense counsel ―object[ed] to any instruction,‖ arguing that any instruction
would ―steer the jury in a direction.‖ The court disagreed, noting that it ―ha[d] an
obligation to be as helpful as [it] possibly can without . . . directing [the jurors] one
way or the other,‖ and reiterated that the ―most neutral way . . . [to] respond is by
giving them‖ the instructions again. In response, defense counsel stated that ―if the
[c]ourt‘s going to give the instruction . . . [he] would ask the [c]ourt to also . . .
instruct the jury on reasonable doubt and credibility of the witnesses‖ in order to
―balance those instructions.‖ The trial court rejected defense counsel‘s proposal,
noting that, because ―[the jurors] haven‘t asked . . . anything about reasonable
doubt‖ or ―about credibility of witnesses,‖ such an instruction would ―inject[]
something in there‖ rather than ―balance anything out.‖
10
Accordingly, the judge reinstructed the jury on the elements of first-degree
murder and second-degree murder, as well as their obligation to acquit on the first-
degree charge before considering the second-degree charge, and clarified the
theory of transferred intent. Approximately forty minutes later, the jury announced
its guilty verdict on the lesser included offense of second-degree murder while
armed. This appeal followed.
II. Discussion
A. Second-Degree Murder Instruction
―We review decisions on whether to reinstruct a jury for abuse of
discretion.‖ Blocker v. United States, 940 A.2d 1042, 1046 (D.C. 2008) (citations
omitted). ―[W]e have frequently recognized that the trial judge has considerable
discretion in the matter of jury instructions[] and in responding to jurors‘
questions.‖ Yelverton v. United States, 904 A.2d 383, 388 (D.C. 2006) (citations
omitted). That said, a supplemental instruction in response to a specific request
from a deliberating jury ―must be viewed in a special light.‖ Id. (citations and
internal quotation marks omitted). This is because the instruction has the potential
to ―unduly emphasize one aspect of the case,‖ id. (citation and internal quotation
11
marks omitted), and thereby ―create a significant risk that the jury would apply the
wrong standard,‖ Owens v. United States, 90 A.3d 1118, 1123 (D.C. 2014) (citing
Yelverton, supra, 904 A.2d at 388), or otherwise influence the jury‘s deliberations
in a manner prejudicial to the defendant, see United States v. Welbeck, 145 F.3d
493, 497 (2d Cir. 1998) (concluding that instructions given ―during deliberations‖
are ―dangerous and will often cause reversible error‖ if the circumstances ―give
rise to unfair prejudice‖).
Usually, ―a lesser-included offense instruction is properly given as long as
(1) the lesser included offense consists of some, but not every element of the
greater offense; and (2) the evidence is sufficient to support the lesser charge.‖7
Jennings v. United States, 993 A.2d 1077, 1079 (D.C. 2010) (citation and internal
quotation marks omitted). However, the circumstances under which the lesser
included offense instruction was given in this case present an issue of first
7
Appellant never opposed the lesser included offense instruction on the
basis of insufficient evidence either at trial or on appeal. At any rate, this
requirement ―is a minimal one: it means any evidence . . . however weak.‖
(Anthony) Shuler v. United States, 677 A.2d 1014, 1017 (D.C. 1996) (omission in
original) (citation and quotation marks omitted). Here, as noted in Woodard v.
United States, 738 A.2d 254, 261 (D.C. 1999), ―the jury instruction . . . was not
improper because a reasonable jury could have concluded that the government
failed to establish premeditation, the only element distinguishing first from second-
degree murder.‖
12
impression — which we review de novo, Plummer v. United States, 43 A.3d 260,
273 (D.C. 2012) — namely, whether it was reversible error for the trial court, in
response to a jury question, to instruct the jury on a lesser included offense not
requested by either party prior to closing arguments.8 In considering this issue, we
take guidance from a factually similar case from the Second Circuit.
In Welbeck, prior to closing arguments, the trial court instructed the jury on
the elements of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and
neither side requested a charge on simple possession as a lesser included offense.
145 F.3d at 495. During deliberations, however, the jury similarly sent two
consecutive notes to the court, asking whether simple ―possession‖ is a lesser
charge and whether they could consider the lesser charge if they were stuck on the
8
Although we previously addressed closely related issues, we have never
squarely addressed whether the trial court has the discretion to give a supplemental
instruction under these circumstances. For example, in Bouknight v. United States,
641 A.2d 857, 859 (D.C. 1994), we upheld a trial court‘s decision to give
supplemental instructions to a jury during deliberations on ―an alternative theory of
criminal liability,‖ as opposed to a ―new charge.‖ In Blocker, we further decided
that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by withdrawing an erroneous charge
and reinstructing the jury on a lesser included offense of that charge after
deliberations had begun. 940 A.2d at 1046. This case is distinguishable from
Bouknight because the supplemental instruction was on a ―new charge,‖ albeit a
lesser included offense of the original charge. Blocker is also not on all fours
because the trial court in this case was not acting to correct a prior erroneous
charge. See 940 A.2d at 1048 (reasoning that, ―more importantly, the original,
erroneous instruction could not be allowed to stand uncorrected‖).
13
―distribution‖ element. Id. at 495–96. After discussing with both parties, the
court, over defense counsel‘s objection, instructed the jurors that they could
convict the appellant of simple possession if they were unable to reach a verdict on
possession with intent to distribute. Id. On appeal, the Second Circuit upheld the
conviction, explaining that, ―while the delivery of a lesser included offense charge
to a deliberating jury is dangerous and will often cause reversible error, it is not per
se illegal and will not justify reversal if the circumstances do not give rise to unfair
prejudice.‖ Id. at 497.
The Second Circuit recognized that supplemental jury instructions on a
lesser included charge issued ―without notice to the defendant prior to summation‖
raise particular concerns, and thus concluded that such cases must be ―carefully
scrutinize[d]‖ according to ―the facts and circumstances of each trial.‖ Id. The
court explicitly identified two potential problems that could give rise to unfair
prejudice to the defendant: (1) where the ―timing of the charge‖ makes it ―unfairly
suggestive on the court‘s part,‖ or (2) where the ―defendant has somehow been
harmed by his reasonable expectation that he faces exposure to liability only for
the greater offense charged.‖ Id. at 497. The first problem arises if ―the theory of
lesser-included liability was suggested to a stalled jury on the court‘s own
initiative,‖ causing the ―stalled jury [to] regard the newly furnished theory of
14
liability as the court‘s recommendation to resolve the impasse by agreeing to the
lesser offense,‖ id. (citations omitted), or, in other words, if the instructions would
lead ―a reasonable jury [to] believe that the trial court was now endorsing the new
instructions,‖ Blocker, supra, 940 A.2d at 1048 (internal quotation marks omitted)
(quoting State v. Thurmond, 677 N.W.2d 655, 663 (Wis. App. Ct. 2004)). The
second problem arises ―where the supplemental instruction deprives the defendant
of the opportunity to address effectively in summation the offense on which he is
ultimately convicted,‖ or ―where the defendant makes strategic concessions in
summation which are damaging in relation to the later charged lesser included
offense.‖ Welbeck, supra, 145 F.3d at 497. The Second Circuit found that neither
of these concerns arose in Welbeck because, with regard to the first concern, the
―initiative for the supplemental instruction came from the jury itself,‖ which
―preclud[es] the possibility that the timing of the charge was unfairly suggestive on
the court‘s part,‖ and, with regard to the second concern, there is not ―any
indication that [the appellant] was unfairly prejudiced by the late instruction.‖ Id.
We find the logic expounded in Welbeck persuasive — especially
considering that it is well-established in this jurisdiction that on issues relating to
post-summation supplemental jury instructions, a ―reversal is not required [if]
appellant did not suffer any real prejudice,‖ Blocker, supra, 940 A.2d at 1046. We
15
therefore adopt the Second Circuit‘s analysis in the District of Columbia.9 The
holding in Welbeck is particularly applicable here because that case dealt with facts
substantially similar to those in this case. Accordingly, we likewise conclude that,
in circumstances such as these, ―we will not upset a conviction absent some
indication of prejudice in consequence of the late charge.‖ Welbeck, supra, 145
F.3d at 498. We are confident that none of the concerns discussed in Welbeck are
present here.
Regarding the first potential concern, i.e., where the timing of the instruction
renders it unduly suggestive, because the trial court gave the instruction on the
lesser included offense as a response to a question asked by the jury early on
during the deliberation process, there is no real danger of the jury assigning undue
weight to the instruction or misinterpreting it as the court‘s recommendation for a
compromise. See id. at 497 (―That concern is not present where, as here, it was the
jury that raised the question of a lesser included offense in a note to the court.‖).
The jury had just begun deliberations, foreclosing the possibility that the ―verdict
9
The Welbeck approach, or a similar analysis, has also been applied in a
few other jurisdictions. See, e.g., Cheely v. State, 850 P.2d 653, 662–63 (Alaska
Ct. App. 1993) (affirming conviction on a later-charged lesser included offense
because of an ―absence of justifiable, detrimental reliance‖ by the defendant on the
original instruction); Thurmond, supra, 677 N.W.2d at 656 (reversing the
conviction upon finding that the post-summation jury instructions on lesser
included offenses were unfairly prejudicial).
16
was driven by a stalled jury‘s desire to disband rather than complete a fair
assessment of the evidence.‖ Thurmond, supra, 677 N.W.2d at 663. Moreover,
the trial court, while giving the second-degree murder instruction, repeated its
instruction on first-degree murder and explained that, the newly-given lesser
included charge notwithstanding, the jury must ―first consider whether the
defendant is guilty of first degree premeditated murder while armed.‖ Thus the
trial court was careful not to place any improper emphasis on the new charge or act
in a manner so as to cause ―a reasonable jury [to] believe that the trial court was
now endorsing the new instructions.‖ Blocker, supra, 940 A.2d at 1048 (citation
and internal quotation marks omitted).
The second concern outlined in Welbeck — regarding whether the late
instruction deprives appellant of the opportunity to address the charge effectively,
or damages the argument appellant did make, during closing arguments — is also
not present here. Although appellant objected below that he would have argued
differently during closing argument had he known that an instruction on second-
degree murder would be given, we do not find this argument persuasive. As the
trial court noted, ―defendant‘s theory was that he wasn‘t even there and that he
didn‘t do it,‖ and defense counsel did not present arguments regarding the elements
of first-degree murder. A review of the record supports the trial court‘s
17
observations. Appellant‘s theory of defense did not depend on the difference
between the elements of first-degree and second-degree murder. It instead
depended on appellant‘s numerous arguments regarding and extensive challenges
to the lack of credibility of the prosecution‘s key witnesses, whose testimonies
implicated appellant and placed appellant at the scene of the crime. These
arguments addressed the second-degree charge just as effectively as the first-
degree. Thus, in light of the theory that appellant argued throughout trial and
during closing argument — that he was not present at the scene of the crime — the
instruction did not deprive appellant of the opportunity to address the offense of
which he was ultimately convicted, or damage any arguments that appellant made
during closing argument. 10 Consequently, although post-summation instructions
on a lesser included offense are ―disfavored‖ and have the potential for unfair
prejudice, we conclude that, under the circumstances of this case, ―[t]here was no
unfair prejudice here, and therefore no error.‖ Welbeck, supra, 145 F.3d at 498.
Lastly, appellant claims prejudice because the trial court‘s supplemental
instruction undermined the ―considered strategy by both sides‖ to pursue the case
10
Appellant also complained on appeal that ―no re-argument was allowed‖
after the trial court decided to give the supplemental instruction. However,
because there was no request to reopen summations, appellant ―cannot complain
that he was deprived of the opportunity.‖ Welbeck, supra, 145 F.3d at 496.
18
on an ―all or nothing‖ basis. This argument is also without merit. While ―the
decision whether to request consideration of a lesser-included offense may be a
tactical one for the parties, parties do not have unfettered unilateral rights in this
regard.‖ Mungo v. United States, 772 A.2d 240, 243–44 (D.C. 2001) (citation
omitted). Although a trial court should generally ―refrain from instructing a jury
on a lesser-included offense without a request from a party to do so,‖ Mungo,
supra, 772 A.2d at 243 (citing Woodard v. United States, 738 A.2d 254, 258 n.9
(D.C. 1999)), a ―trial court‘s sua sponte suggestion of a lesser-included offense
instruction is not error simply because the trial court acts of its own accord,‖ High
v. United States, 972 A.2d 829, 833 (D.C. 2009). We clarified:
[A] trial court is under no duty to sit quietly and refrain
from even mentioning a lesser included instruction until
one of the parties requests it (assuming that one is
warranted under the circumstances). Rather, the court
may give a lesser included instruction if requested to do
so or if the prosecutor or defense counsel “affirmatively
agrees” to one when the court suggests it.
Hawthorne v. United States, 829 A.2d 948, 952 (D.C. 2003) (second emphasis
added) (citation omitted). Hawthorne explained that ―[a]lthough the prosecutor . . .
did not initiate the discussion about the possibility of a lesser included offense
instruction,‖ the trial court may nonetheless give the instruction sua sponte,
because one of the parties, the prosecutor in that case, ―affirmatively agreed‖ with
19
the trial court‘s suggestion by stating that such an instruction ―certainly seems
appropriate[,] unless the court thinks otherwise.‖ Likewise, here, although neither
appellant nor the government initially requested a lesser included instruction on
second-degree murder, one of the parties — the government in this case — later
agreed to the trial court‘s suggestion to give the instruction in response to the jury
note, noting that ―the [c]ourt is correct that it has the discretion‖ to give the lesser
included instruction. Woodard, supra note 7, 738 A.2d at 260. It is of no
consequence that the trial court gave the instruction over defense counsel‘s
objection, because, in situations where one of the parties agrees to the lesser
included instruction but the other objects, ―[t]he test is not whether there is an
objection from either party, but whether the evidence supports the giving of the
instruction,‖ Glymph v. United States, 490 A.2d 1157, 1160 (D.C. 1985), and, as
discussed supra note 7, there clearly was sufficient evidence to support an
instruction on second-degree murder in this case. Consequently, the trial court‘s
decision to give the instruction was not an abuse of discretion simply ―because it
precluded [appellant] from taking the ‗all or nothing‘ approach.‖
For these reasons, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by giving this
lesser included instruction in response to the jury question because appellant did
20
not suffer ―real prejudice,‖ Blocker, supra, 940 A.2d at 1046, ―in consequence of
the [post-summation] charge,‖ Welbeck, supra, 145 F.3d at 497.
B. The Final Reinstruction
Additionally, appellant contends that the trial court abused its discretion by
giving a final reinstruction to the jury on certain legal standards and principles over
the defense‘s objection, and by rejecting defense counsel‘s proposal to ―balance‖
the trial court‘s reinstruction with reinstructions on reasonable doubt and
credibility of witnesses. We discern no such abuse of discretion. See Blocker,
supra, 940 A.2d at 1046. It is well-established ―that when a jury sends a note
indicating its confusion with the law governing its deliberations, the trial court
must not allow that confusion to persist; it must respond appropriately.‖ Jordan v.
United States, 18 A.3d 703, 707 (D.C. 2011) (emphasis added) (citation and
internal quotation marks omitted). ―This means that when a jury makes explicit its
difficulties, a trial judge should clear them away with concrete accuracy.‖ Cox v.
United States, 999 A.2d 63, 71 (D.C. 2010) (citation, brackets, and internal
quotation marks omitted). The jury note in this case — asking about transferred
intent in the context of the ―possibility‖ that Best was killed ―in an unpremeditated
manner‖ but also maintaining that the question ―[wa]s relevant‖ to their
21
deliberations about first-degree murder — ―clearly evinced confusion,‖ id., as to
first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and transferred intent. Accordingly,
the trial court did not abuse its discretion by reinstructing the jury on those legal
issues.
Further, because the trial court‘s reinstructions were simply a neutral
recitation of the law intended to dispel the jury‘s confusion, the trial court‘s
instructions were balanced and did not inject the trial court into the jury‘s
deliberations on how the law should have been applied. See Davis v. United
States, 510 A.2d 1051, 1053 (D.C. 1986) (holding that ―the trial judge must
prevent the poison[ing of] an otherwise healthy trial‖ by avoiding giving
―improperly balanced‖ instructions) (alteration in original) (citation and internal
quotation marks omitted). A reinstruction is balanced where, ―by answering only
the question that was asked . . . , the judge refrained from emphasizing the
government‘s case in a prejudicial manner.‖ Robinson v. United States, 642 A.2d
1306, 1311–12 (D.C. 1994). Thus, by simply recounting the elements of the
offenses and the definition of transferred intent, the trial court limited the
reinstruction to only addressing the jury‘s areas of confusion. Moreover, the
record reveals that the trial court was conscious of its obligation to give a helpful
reinstruction ―without steering [the jurors] one way or the other.‖ Contrary to
22
appellant‘s claim, the trial court further did not err by rejecting defense counsel‘s
proposal for additional reinstructions on reasonable doubt and credibility of
witnesses. As the trial court observed, these reinstructions had nothing to do with
the jury‘s questions and would have resulted in the trial court ―injecting‖ itself into
an issue the jury did not ask about. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion by reinstructing the jury on the law under these circumstances.
III. Conclusion
We discern no abuse of discretion with regard to either the post-summation
instruction on second-degree murder or the trial court‘s reinstructions. Although
post-summation instructions on a lesser included offense have the potential for
unfair prejudice, we conclude on appeal that ―[t]here was no unfair prejudice here,
and therefore no error.‖ Welbeck, supra, 145 F.3d at 498. The conviction on
appeal is hereby
Affirmed.