FELONY MURDER NON-SLAYER PARTICIPANT
(N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3)) model jury charge in NJ
The defendant is charged in count __________ with felony murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3.
The indictment reads in pertinent part as follows:
(Read indictment or appropriate count, if indictment contains more than one count.)
(Continue with basic charge.)
The State does not contend that the defendant himself/herself killed (name of victim). The State charges that (name of victim) was
shot and killed1 while defendant, alone or with one or more other
persons, was engaged in the commission of or attempt to commit or flight
after committing or attempting to commit2 the crime of (insert
predicate crime, eg., robbery), as charged in count of the indictment.3
The section of the statute applicable to this case reads in pertinent part as follows:
... [C]riminal homicide constitutes murder when:
It
is committed when the actor either acting alone or with one or more
other persons, is engaged in the commission of or attempt to commit or
flight after committing or attempting to commit... (insert predicate
crime), and in the course of such crime or the immediate flight
therefrom.... any person causes the death of a person other than one of
the participants....
Under
this law, it does not matter that the act which caused death was
committed by a participant in the crime of (predicate crime) other than
the defendant, or even by someone other than a participant4 Nor does it
generally matter that the act which caused death was committed
recklessly or unintentionally or accidentally.5 Each participant in the
crime of (predicate crime), whether the participant himself/herself
caused the death or not, would be guilty of felony murder.
In order for you to find the defendant guilty of felony murder in this case, the State is
1 If the death was caused in some other manner, so indicate.
2 Delete language relating to attempt or flight throughout charge if not applicable. On flight, see State in the Interest of J.R., 234 N.J. Super 388 (Ch. Div. 1988) and cases cited therein.
3 The crimes enumerated in N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3)
are robbery, sexual assault, arson, burglary, kidnapping and criminal
escape. It is assumed that the indictment would contain a separate count
or counts charging defendant with the predicate crime(s) or attempted
crime(s).
4 Under N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3), a perpetrator would be guilty of murder if the death of the victim (e.g.,
a bystander, but not another participant) was caused by another person,
such as a police officer or a shopkeeper who was being robbed. Cf. State v. Kress, 105 N.J. Super. 514 (Law Div. 1969).
5 The same result would follow if the death was the result of the victims fear or fright. See State v. Smith, 210 N.J. Super. 43 (App. Div. 1986); State v. McKeiver, 89 N.J. Super. 52 (Law Div. 1965), as long as the requirements of the causation statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:2-3 were charged and satisfied. FELONY MURDER - NON-SLAYER PARTICIPANT (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3)) Page 2 of 6
required
to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, from all the evidence in the case,
each of the following elements of the offense charged:
6
If the facts indicate an attempted crime, see appropriate charge on
attempt elsewhere herein and modify to the extent necessary. And if
defendants involvement was or may have been as an accomplice (N.J.S.A. 2C:2-6), see appropriate charges elsewhere herein, including, if also applicable, the defense of renunciation N.J.S.A. 2C:2-6(e)).
In this regard, the Commentary on the New Jersey Penal Code points out
that subsection c of 2C:2-6, in defining accomplice, replaces the aiding
and abetting language of N.J.S.A. 2A:85-14.
7 Where the issue is whether the predicate crime had terminated when the killing occurred, see State v. Holland, 59 N.J. 451, 458 (1971).
8 State v. Grey, 147 N.J.
4, 17 and 40 (1996). Where defendant is accused of being engaged in the
commission of more than one predicate crime (and, presumably, is so
charged in the individual counts of the indictment), the jury should be
instructed that they must unanimously agree that defendant has committed
(or attempted to commit) at least one of the offenses charged. Grey, 147 N.J. at 17 n. 2, discussing State v. Harris, 141 N.J.
525, 561-564 (1995). In appropriate cases, and when specifically
requested by counsel, the jury should be instructed that it must agree
unanimously on which predicate crime or crimes defendant was engaged in committing when the death was caused. Harris, 141 N.J. at 563; State v. Parker, 124 N.J. 628, 636-637 (1991).
1.
That on or about (insert date) the defendant was engaged in the
commission of or attempt to commit or flight after committing or
attempting to commit the crime of (name of predicate crime), as charged
in count of the indictment;6
2. That the death of (name of victim) was
caused at some time within the course of the commission of that crime,
including its aftermaths of flight and concealment efforts.7
[And, if applicable:
3. That (name of victim) was not a participant in the crime.]
The
first element requires the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt
that the defendant was engaged in the commission of or attempt to commit
or flight after committing or attempting to commit the crime of (name
of predicate crime). I have already defined the elements of (predicate
crime), which defendant is accused of having engaged in committing (or
attempting to commit) in my instructions concerning count . You cannot
find the defendant guilty of felony murder unless you first find him/her
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of having committed (or attempted to
commit) the crime charged in count .8
[NOTE: Where the defendant has been charged with conspiracy to commit a predicate crime as well as the predicate crime itself, add:
I have also previously defined for you the elements of conspiracy to commit (predicate FELONY MURDER - NON-SLAYER PARTICIPANT (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3)) Page 3 of 6
9 Grey, 147 N.J. at 15.
10 State v. Martin, 119 N.J. 2, 11, 19-34 (1990).
11
Where divergent factual versions give rise to different theories of
causation, the trial court must provide the jury with appropriate
instructions to apply, depending on which version it chooses to accept.
Thus, in appropriate cases the court must fashion its charge to instruct
the jury how to deal with the defendants (as well as with the States)
factual contentions. State v. Martin, 119 N.J. 2, 16-18 (1990).
crime),
as charged in count of the indictment. Conspiracy to commit (predicate
crime) is a separate offense from (predicate crime) and cannot be a
basis for a conviction of felony murder. Therefore, if you find
defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of conspiracy to commit
(predicate crime) as charged in count , but you find the defendant not
guilty of (predicate crime) as charged in count , you must find him/her
not guilty of felony murder.9]
The
second element requires the State to establish that the victims death
was caused during the commission of or attempt to commit or flight after
committing or attempting to commit the (insert predicate crime). In
order to meet its burden of proof in this regard, the State must prove
beyond a reasonable doubt the following:
1.
That but for defendants conduct or the conduct of one or more others
with whom the defendant participated in the commission of, or attempt to
commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit (the
predicate crime) the victim would not have died. In other words, that
the victims death would not have occurred without the commission of the
(insert predicate crime).10
2.
That the victims death was a probable consequence of the commission of
or attempt to commit or flight after committing or attempting to commit
(insert predicate crime). In order for the death to be a probable
consequence of the (insert predicate crime) the death must not have been
too remote, or too accidental in its occurrence, or too dependent on
anothers volitional acts to have a just bearing on the defendants
liability or the gravity of his/her offense. In other words, you must
decide if the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that, under all
the circumstances, the death did not occur in such an unexpected or
unusual manner that it would be unjust to find the defendant responsible
for the death.11
[NOTE: In cases where Causation - Removal of Life Support is an issue, the jury should be instructed as follows:
You have heard testimony that on [date], (insert victims name) was
taken off life support and that he/she died at some point after this
was done. Should you find beyond a reasonable doubt that (insert victims name) died from medical complications that resulted from FELONY MURDER - NON-SLAYER PARTICIPANT (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3)) Page 4 of 6
12 State v. Pelham, 176 N.J. 44, 455-456 and n. 2 (2003).
13 Pelham, 176 N.J. at 467.
14 State v. Martin, supra, 119 N.J. at 32.
injuries
caused by defendants actions, the removal of life support, in this case
(method of removal), is not an intervening cause that relieves
defendant of any criminal liability for those actions.12 That is, if
defendants actions set in motion (insert victims name) need
for life support, without which death would result naturally, then the
causal link between defendants action and the death of (insert victims name) was not broken by an unforeseen, extraordinary act when (insert victims name) was removed from life support and then expired, unless there was an intervening volitional act of another.]13
(NOTE: In cases in which someone other than a participant causes the death the jury should be instructed as follows:
A
killing which is committed by someone other than a participant in the
(insert predicate crime), such as a victim or a police officer, need not
be considered too remote, too accidental or too dependent on anothers
volitional act to have a just bearing on the issue of the defendants
culpability. Our law recognizes that a death which occurs as a result of
self-defense or retaliation may not be so unexpected or unusual that it
would be unjust to hold a participant in the (insert predicate crime)
responsible for the death.14)
(NOTE: Where there is an issue of whether the decedent was a participant in the crime or attempted crime, add:
The
State must also prove beyond a reasonable doubt that (name of victim)
was not a participant in the (predicate crime or attempted crime). A
participant is one who participates in or shares in that crime.)
(NOTE: In the event facts appear in the States or defendants proofs supporting the affirmative defense contained in N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3)(a) through (d), but not otherwise the following instructions should be given:
Under
the statute which applies here, it is an affirmative defense to the
charge of felony murder if there is proof in the case that defendant
(a) Did not commit the homicidal act or in any way solicit, request, command, importune, cause or aid the commission thereof; and
(b)
Was not armed with a deadly weapon, or any instrument, article or
substance readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury
and FELONY MURDER - NON-SLAYER PARTICIPANT (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3)) Page 5 of 6
15 See State v. Fair, 45 N.J. 77, 91 (1965); State v. Abbott, 36 N.J. 63, 72 (1961); Commentary on New Jersey Penal Code, 35-36.
of a sort not ordinarily carried in public places by law-abiding persons; and
(c)
Had no reasonable ground to believe that any other participant was
armed with such a weapon, instrument, article or substance; and
(d)
Had no reasonable ground to believe that any other participant intended
to engage in conduct likely to result in death or serious physical
injury.
This
means that the affirmative defense is not available to defendant unless
there is evidence in the case supporting all of the four requirements,
and not merely one, or two or three of them. If there is such supporting
evidence, either in the States proofs or as presented in behalf of the
defendant, then it is incumbent upon the State to negate this evidence
by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.15 However, it is not necessary that
all four requirements be negated. Since the defense is not available to
defendant unless the evidence supports all four of the requirements, it
is sufficient for the State in such case to present proof beyond a
reasonable doubt negating any one of them).
If
you find, after a consideration of all the evidence that the State has
proven to your satisfaction beyond a reasonable doubt each of these
elements of the offense charged, as I have just explained them to you;
that is, (1) that the defendant was engaged in the commission of or
attempt to commit or flight after committing or attempting to commit the
crime of (name of predicate crime), as charged in count of the
indictment, (2) that the death of (name of victim) was caused at some
time within the course of the commission of that crime, including its
aftermaths of flight and concealment efforts [and, if applicable, (3)
that (name of victim) was not a participant in the crime], then you must
find the defendant guilty of felony murder.
On
the other hand, if you find that the State has failed to prove to your
satisfaction beyond a reasonable doubt any one or more of those elements
of the crime charged, as I have explained them, then you must find the
defendant not guilty of felony murder.
NOTE: In
the event that purposeful or knowing murder, aggravated manslaughter or
manslaughter is charged in the indictment the jury should be advised
that if the State has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any
participant caused the death of the victim then the defendant should be
found not guilty of all charged homicide offenses. FELONY MURDER - NON-SLAYER PARTICIPANT (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(3)) Page 6 of 6
16
In the rare event the facts are such that the jury might find the
defendant not guilty of felony murder solely because of its conclusion
that the victims death was not caused by the defendant or some other
person, quaere: should the predicate crime, e.g., robbery or attempted robbery, be charged as a lesser included offense, where, contrary to the assumption in footnote 3 supra, the indictment does not contain a separate count for the offense? See 2C:1-8(d).
The
jury should be further advised with appropriate instructions that if
they find beyond a reasonable doubt that any participant did cause the
death of the victim but that the State has failed to prove that the
defendant was then engaged as an accomplice in the course of the
commission of or attempt to commit or flight after committing or
attempting to commit the (predicate crime) charged in count , then they
should proceed to consider whether the defendant as an accomplice
purposely, knowingly or recklessly caused the death of the victim.16
(See appropriate charges elsewhere herein.)
(NOTE: If the affirmative defense is an issue in the case, incorporate the following into the summary:
If
you find there is evidence in the case supporting all elements of the
affirmative defense which I explained to you, and that the State has
failed to negate beyond a reasonable doubt any one or more of them, then
you must find the defendant not guilty of felony murder. But if you
find that the State has presented proof beyond a reasonable doubt
negating one or more of those elements, and has also proven beyond a
reasonable doubt all the elements of the offense charged, then you will
must the defendant guilty of felony murder.)
Consequences of a Criminal Guilty Plea1. You will have to appear in open court and tell the judge what you did that makes you guilty of the particular offense(s)
2. Do you understand that if you plead guilty:
a. You will have a criminal record3. If you are on Probation, you will have to submit to random drug and urine testing. If you violate Probation, you often go to jail.
b. You may go to Jail or Prison.
c. You will have to pay Fines and Court Costs.
4. In indictable matters, you will be required to provide a DNA sample, which could be used by law enforcement for the investigation of criminal activity, and pay for the cost of testing.
5. You must pay restitution if the court finds there is a victim who has suffered a loss and if the court finds that you are able or will be able in the future to pay restitution.
6. If you are a public office holder or employee, you can be required to forfeit your office or job by virtue of your plea of guilty.
7. If you are not a United States citizen or national, you may be deported by virtue of your plea of guilty.
8. You must wait 5-10 years to expunge a first offense. 2C:52-3
9. You could be put on Probation.
10. In Drug Cases, a mandatory DEDR penalty of $500-$1,000, and lose your drivers license for 6 months - 2 years. You must pay a Law Enforcement Officers Training and Equipment Fund penalty of $30.
11. You may be required to do Community Service.
12. You must pay a minimum Violent Crimes Compensation Board assessment of $50 ($100 minimum if you are convicted of a crime of violence) for each count to which you plead guilty.
13. You must pay a $75 Safe Neighborhood Services Fund assessment for each conviction.
14. If you are being sentenced to probation, you must pay a fee of up to $25 per month for the term of probation.
15. You lose the presumption against incarceration in future cases. 2C:44-1
16. You may lose your right to vote.
The defense of a person charged with a criminal offense is not impossible. There are a number of viable defenses and arguments which can be pursued to achieve a successful result. Advocacy, commitment, and persistence are essential to defending a client accused of a criminal offense.
Jail for Crimes and Disorderly Conduct:
If someone pleads Guilty or is found Guilty of a criminal offense, the following is the statutory Prison/Jail terms.
NJSA 2C: 43-8 (1) In the case of a crime of the first degree, for a specific term of years which shall be fixed by the court and shall be between 10 years and 20 years;
(2) In the case of a crime of the second degree, for a specific term of years which shall be fixed by the court and shall be between five years and 10 years;
(3) In the case of a crime of the third degree, for a specific term of years which shall be fixed by the court and shall be between three years and five years;
(4) In the case of a crime of the fourth degree, for a specific term which shall be fixed by the court and shall not exceed 18 months.
2C:43-3 Fines have been increased recently! 2C:43-3. Fines and Restitutions. A person who has been convicted of an offense may be sentenced to pay a fine, to make restitution, or both, such fine not to exceed:
a. (1) $200,000.00 when the conviction is of a crime of the first degree;
(2) $150,000.00 when the conviction is of a crime of the second degree;
b. (1) $15,000.00 when the conviction is of a crime of the third degree;
(2) $10,000.00 when the conviction is of a crime of the fourth degree;
c. $1,000.00, when the conviction is of a disorderly persons offense;
d. $500.00, when the conviction is of a petty disorderly persons offense;
If facing any criminal charge, retain an experienced attorney immediately to determine you rights and obligations to the court. Current criminal charge researched by Kenneth Vercammen, Esq. 732-572-0500
