In criminal trials, the court shall decide questions of law, except in cases of criminal defamation, and the jury shall decide questions of fact. The defendant may object to a decision of the court on a matter of law. Although the jury may return a general verdict including questions of law as well as fact, it shall receive as law the court's instructions.
History:(10710) RL s 5363; 1971 c 25 s 99; 1985 c 265 art 11 s 1