Puerto Rico Jury Instruction - Impeachment - Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction - Defendant Testifies With No Felony Conviction

• Category: Federal - Jury Instructions - Basic Criminal Claim Instructions
• State: Multi-State
• Control #: US-11CR-6-5
• Format: Word; Rich Text

Description

This form contains sample jury instructions, to be used across the United States. These questions are to be used only as a model, and should be altered to more perfectly fit your own cause of action needs.

Puerto Rico Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With No Felony Conviction A Puerto Rico Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With No Felony Conviction refers to a legal guideline given to the jury during a trial in Puerto Rico when a defendant has made an inconsistent statement and has a prior felony conviction. When a defendant testifies without a felony conviction, their credibility is essential to determine their innocence or guilt. This specific jury instruction advises the jury on how to evaluate the defendant's inconsistent statement and the impact of the lack of a felony conviction. The instruction aims to establish whether the defendant's inconsistent statement affects their overall credibility as a witness. It also takes into account the absence of a felony conviction, which could potentially strengthen the defendant's credibility by arguing that their lack of a criminal record indicates their honesty and reliability as a witness. Inconsistency in the defendant's statement can occur when their testimony contradicts earlier statements made during the investigation or at a prior hearing. These inconsistencies may cast doubt on the defendant's truthfulness and sincerity. However, the absence of a prior felony conviction can be utilized by the defense attorney to challenge the prosecution's case and to support the defendant's credibility. The defense might argue that the lack of a felony conviction indicates that the defendant has no history of dishonesty or criminal behavior, thus strengthening the defendant's version of events. Different variations of Puerto Rico Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With No Felony Conviction may exist, including specific instructions addressing different types of felonies or inconsistencies in statements. For instance: 1. Puerto Rico Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and Non-Violent Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With No Felony Conviction: This instruction applies when the defendant has a prior felony conviction for a non-violent offense and testifies without a felony conviction. 2. Puerto Rico Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and Violent Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With No Felony Conviction: This instruction is given if the defendant has a prior felony conviction for a violent offense, and they testify without a felony conviction. These variations address different circumstances and provide guidance to the jury on how to assess the weight of both the inconsistent statement and the absence of a specific type of felony conviction. In summary, the Puerto Rico Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With No Felony Conviction aims to assist the jury in evaluating the credibility of a defendant who has made inconsistent statements and has no prior felony conviction. It ensures a fair trial by providing guidelines on how to assess the defendant's credibility based on the presented evidence.