State v. Green
| Decision Date | 04 April 1967 |
| Docket Number | No. 1249,1249 |
| Citation | 126 Vt. 311,228 A.2d 792 |
| Parties | STATE of Vermont v. Maxwell Guy GREEN. |
| Court | Vermont Supreme Court |
James W. Wright, State's Atty., for State.
John W. Brockway, White River Junction, for respondent.
Before HOLDEN, C. J., and SHANGRAW, BARNEY, SMITH and KEYSER, JJ.
The respondent was convicted on March 15, 1966 in Windsor County Court after trial by jury on the charge of statutory rape.
The court instructed the jury in part as follows:
The respondent excepted to this portion of the charge in the following langauge:
'We would except to that portion of the charge wherein the Court charged that reasonable doubt did not apply to a particular fact or element but that he (sic) must find reasonable doubt as to all of the evidence, it being our understanding of the law that each and every element of fact must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.'
The respondent argues that, to convict, it is necessary for the state to prove all the material facts of its information beyond a reasonable doubt. Also, that if the jury believes any essential element of the case admits of reasonable doubt, they must give the benefit of this doubt to the respondent and render a verdict of not guilty.
There is no question but that in a criminal case the degree of persuasion required of a jury in order to find the respondent guilty is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The basic law of the land places the burden upon the state to establish each essential element of the crime charged beyond a reasonable doubt. Lacking such proof, the respondent is entitled to an acquittal. 23 C.J.S. Criminal Law § 910; 20 Am.Jur., Evidence, §§ 1256-1258; State v. Meyer, 58 Vt. 457, 462, 3 A. 195; State v. Lizotte, 109 Vt. 378, 387, 197 A. 396.
Just previous to the statement excepted to, the court instructed the jury what constituted the elements of the crime charged in the information, and that 'the burden is upon the State to make out and establish each of these essential elements of the crime charged against the respondent beyond a reasonable doubt.' The court then went on to explain the meaning of 'reasonable doubt.' It also instructed the jury that 'you cannot find him guilty unless from all the evidence you believe him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.'
Manifestly, the respondent takes the position that the phrases 'particular incriminating fact' and 'element of the crime' are synonymous and equivalent, which they are not. One does not necessarily embrace the other and generally this is so.
The jury is not required to find every particular incriminating fact beyond a reasonable doubt. But, to warrant a conviction, each fact which is necessary to the conclusion that a respondent committed the crime charged must be fully established beyond a reasonable doubt. This is true even though there may be various facts not demonstrated by this measure of proof. State v. Orlandi, 106 Vt. 165, 175, 170 A. 908.
The respondent argues it was 'prejudicial error...
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