Jury instructions.

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  • (1) If a defendant asserts a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity, the court shall instruct the jury that the jury may find the defendant:
    • (a) guilty;
    • (b) guilty with a mental illness at the time of the offense;
    • (c) guilty of a lesser offense;
    • (d) guilty of a lesser offense with a mental illness at the time of the offense;
    • (e) not guilty by reason of insanity; or
    • (f) not guilty.
  • (2)
    • (a) When a defendant asserts a mental defense pursuant to Section 76-2-305 or asserts special mitigation reducing the level of an offense pursuant to Subsection 76-5-205.5(2)(a), or when the evidence raises the issue and either party requests the instruction, the court shall instruct the jury that if the jury finds a defendant guilty by proof beyond a reasonable doubt of a charged offense or lesser included offense, the jury shall also return a special verdict indicating whether the jury finds that the defendant had a mental illness at the time of the offense.
    • (b) If the jury finds the defendant guilty of the charged offense by proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and by special verdict finds the defendant had a mental illness at the time of the offense, the jury shall return the general verdict of "guilty with a mental illness at the time of the offense."
    • (c) If the jury finds the defendant guilty of a lesser offense by proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and by special verdict finds the defendant had a mental illness at the time of the offense, the jury shall return the general verdict of "guilty of a lesser offense with a mental illness at the time of the offense."
    • (d) If the jury finds the defendant guilty of the charged offense or a lesser included offense and does not find that the defendant had a mental illness at the time of the offense, the jury shall return a verdict of "guilty" of the offense, along with the special verdict form indicating that the jury did not find that the defendant had a mental illness at the time of the offense.
    • (e) The special verdict shall be returned by the jury at the same time as the general verdict, to indicate the basis for the jury's general verdict.
  • (3)
    • (a) In determining whether a defendant should be found guilty with a mental illness at the time of the offense, the court shall instruct the jury that the standard of proof applicable to a finding of mental illness is by a preponderance of the evidence.
    • (b) The court shall also instruct the jury that the standard of preponderance of the evidence does not apply to the elements establishing a defendant's guilt, and that the proof of the elements establishing a defendant's guilt of an offense must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
  • (4)
    • (a) When special mitigation based on extreme emotional distress is at issue pursuant to Subsection 76-5-205.5(2)(b), the jury shall, in addition to the jury's general verdict, return a special verdict.
    • (b) The special verdict shall be returned by the jury at the same time as the general verdict, to indicate the basis for the jury's general verdict.




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