Maine Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With No Felony Conviction In the state of Maine, when a defendant is facing criminal charges and chooses to testify in their own defense, their credibility can be challenged through the presentation of inconsistent statements or a prior felony conviction. However, if the defendant does not have any prior felony convictions, specific jury instructions come into play to address this situation. These instructions aim to guide the jury's understanding of the defendant's credibility in light of their lack of a felony conviction. One possible type of Maine Jury Instruction relevant to this scenario is: 1. Maine Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and No Felony Conviction: This instruction is given to the jury when the defendant has testified without any prior felony convictions and the prosecution attempts to impeach the defendant's credibility by presenting evidence of inconsistent statements made by the defendant during their testimony. The purpose of this instruction is to inform the jury about the potential effect of inconsistent statements on the defendant's credibility, given their clean record in terms of felony convictions. The instruction may include: — The jury should consider whether the inconsistencies in the defendant's statement during their testimony affect their overall credibility. Inconsistent statements may indicate a lack of truthfulness, memory lapses, or a lack of accuracy in the defendant's account of events. — The lack of a prior felony conviction may be considered by the jury as a positive factor in evaluating the defendant's credibility, especially when compared to a prior felon who might have a motive to lie or be less truthful due to their criminal history. — However, the absence of a felony conviction does not automatically establish the defendant's credibility or mean that their testimony is truthful. The jury must still consider all the evidence presented in the case and evaluate the defendant's testimony in relation to other witnesses and supporting evidence. It is important to note that the specific wording and instructions provided to the jury may vary depending on the judge's discretion, the nature of the case, and the specific circumstances of the inconsistent statements and lack of a felony conviction. Maine's legal system is designed to ensure fairness and the instructions given to the jury should reflect the unique circumstances of each case while adhering to the principles of justice. In conclusion, Maine Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With No Felony Conviction pertains to providing guidance to the jury when a defendant, without any prior felony convictions, testifies in their own defense and the prosecution presents evidence of inconsistent statements. This instruction highlights the impact of inconsistent statements on the defendant's credibility while accounting for their clean record and the absence of a felony conviction.