Schwager v. State

• Decision Date: 05 February 1979
• Docket Number: No. 4955,4955
• Parties: Ronald SCHWAGER, Appellant (Defendant below), v. The STATE of Wyoming, Appellee (Plaintiff below).
• Court: Wyoming Supreme Court

Page 1303

589 P.2d 1303

Ronald SCHWAGER, Appellant (Defendant below), v. The STATE of Wyoming, Appellee (Plaintiff below).

No. 4955.

Supreme Court of Wyoming.

Feb. 5, 1979.

Frank R. Chapman, Public Defender for Laramie County, Cheyenne, and Susan D. Mueller, Senior Law Student and Student Intern, Wyoming Defender Aid Program, Laramie, for appellant.

John J. Rooney, Acting Atty. Gen., Gerald A. Stack, Deputy Atty. Gen., and Richard H. Honaker, Asst. Atty. Gen., Cheyenne, for appellee.

Before RAPER, C. J., McCLINTOCK, THOMAS and ROSE, JJ., and GUTHRIE, J., retired. ^*

McCLINTOCK, Justice.

Ronald Schwager was charged with murder in the first degree and convicted of manslaughter in the death of Frank Heinrich. He appeals that conviction claiming error of the district court in refusing to present to the jury his offered instruction on the defense of insanity as that defense defined and included irresistible impulse. We find no error and affirm the judgment.

On the evening of June 25, 1977, around 8:00 p. m., police officers responded to a call for assistance at 1000 Christine Circle, Cheyenne. Upon their arrival at that address they found the defendant, Ronald Schwager, on the roadway, waving his arms to signal to them. Their investigation discovered the body of Heinrich, dead of gunshot wounds in his right side. Schwager pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity.

At trial conference, when the instructions were discussed, the defense offered Instruction 1A, the substance of which is noted below. Defense counsel stated to the court that the instruction was offered concerning Mr. Schwager's ability to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law. Legal basis for the instruction was claimed to be Reilly v. State, Wyo., 496 P.2d 899 (1972), reh. denied, Wyo., 498 P.2d 1236. Defense counsel stated that Reilly referred to additional cases which considered the "irresistible impulse and uncontrollable act" as the same as the M'Naghten ¹ rule as adopted by Wyoming, and argued to the court that this court had suggested that modification be included in a charge to the jury. The trial court noted Reilly, and the cases cited, predated the law applicable and refused the request. At that point counsel objected to the refusal of the instruction by the court. ²

It is the law in Wyoming that no error may be assigned to the giving or failure to give an instruction unless that party objects thereto before the jury retires to consider the verdict. In addition, the objecting party must specifically state the grounds for his objection. Rule 51, W.R.C.P.; Leitel v. State, Wyo., 579 P.2d 421 (1978); Reeder v. State, Wyo., 515 P.2d 969 (1973); Heberling v. State, Wyo., 507 P.2d 1, reh. denied, cert. denied 414 U.S. 1022, 94 S.Ct. 444, 38 L.Ed.2d 313 (1973). We adhere to those rules, and require that the party make a specific legal objection to the refused instruction before error can be claimed on appeal.

Here, we find that the objection was sufficient. Counsel cited his legal authority and explained the purpose for his offer. He stated the theory of the instruction in terms of the defense of the case. The policy of our rules is designed to apprise and inform the trial court of the purpose of the instruction and the legal reason it is offered to allow for correction before submission to the jury. We feel that here the trial court was sufficiently informed of the specific legal reasons that the instruction was offered and the objection was proper.

We distinguish the cases cited above that declined review on this ground. In Leitel v. State, supra, counsel simply took "exception" to the denial. In Reeder v. State, supra, the defense offered an instruction on defense of habitation that this court found was unwarranted by the evidence. Objection to the denial was only that failure of the court to give the instruction was not in " 'conformity with the laws of the State of Wyoming,' " 515 P.2d at 972. Bentley v. State, Wyo., 502 P.2d 203 (1972) is different, as in that case counsel failed to point out to the court why a particular instruction given was improper. In Heberling v. State, supra, the defense objected to an accomplice instruction given on the basis that it failed to state the law, and said no more. Here, the trial court was fully informed of the legal basis and theory of the proposed instruction. Indeed, the court was aware that the authority predated the present law. Nevertheless, we hold that the trial court did not err in refusing to give the instruction offered.

The instruction offered by the defense and refused by the trial court stated:

"You are instructed that the concept of a person not being able to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law is the same as saying that he acted with an irresistible impulse. The Prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant could conform his conduct to the standard of law and did not act with an irresistible impulse."

The statute that establishes and defines this defense excuses responsibility for criminal conduct if at the time of the act, "As a result of mental illness or...