Colorado Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statemen— - Defendant Testifies With Felony Conviction is a legal instruction used in Colorado courts during criminal trials. It pertains to situations where a defendant takes the stand to testify, and the prosecution seeks to impeach their credibility by presenting evidence of inconsistent statements made by the defendant in the past, particularly those related to their felony conviction(s). Impeachment refers to the act of challenging the credibility and truthfulness of a witness, in this case, the defendant. Inconsistency in statements made by the defendant becomes relevant when the prosecution argues that these inconsistencies undermine the defendant's credibility and cast doubt on the veracity of their testimony. The Colorado Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statemen— - Defendant Testifies With Felony Conviction instruction guides the jury on how to consider and evaluate such evidence. Here are a few different types of instructions that may be included under this topic: 1. General Instruction: — The jury should carefully evaluate the defendant's credibility when considering their testimony in light of any inconsistent statements made by the defendant. — The fact that the defendant has a felony conviction(s) may be considered as part of the overall assessment of credibility. 2. Instruction on Prior Inconsistent Statements: — If the prosecution introduces evidence of prior inconsistent statements made by the defendant, the jury should assess the degree of inconsistency and determine if it affects the defendant's credibility. — The jury should consider whether the prior inconsistent statements were deliberate falsehoods or mere mistakes or lapses in memory. 3. Instruction on Felony Conviction: — The jury may consider the defendant's felony conviction(s) as they evaluate the defendant's credibility as a witness. — However, the jury should not automatically assume that having a felony conviction makes the defendant less credible; rather, it should be weighed along with other evidence and factors. 4. Limiting Instruction: — In certain cases, the court might provide a limiting instruction to caution the jury on specific considerations related to inconsistencies and felony convictions. — This instruction may specify the limited purpose for which the evidence of inconsistency or felony conviction can be used. It is important to note that the specific instructions given to the jury will depend on the facts and circumstances of each trial, as well as the specific arguments made by the prosecution and defense attorneys. These instructions serve to guide the jury in their role as fact-finders and to help them make informed decisions based on the evidence presented during the trial.