 |
5.1-7 Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Aiding Suicide) -- § 53a-56 (a) (2)
Revised to December 1, 2007
The defendant is charged [in count ___] with manslaughter in the second degree. The statute defining this offense reads as follows: a person is guilty of manslaughter in the second degree when (he/she) intentionally causes or aids another person, other than by force, duress or deception, to commit suicide.
a person is guilty of manslaughter in the second degree when (he/she) intentionally causes or aids another person, other than by force, duress or deception, to commit suicide.
For you to find the defendant guilty of this charge, the state must prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
Element 1 - Suicide
The first element is that <insert
name of decedent> committed suicide.
Element 2 - Intent
The second element is that the
defendant intentionally caused or aided <insert name of decedent> to
commit suicide. A person acts "intentionally" with respect to a result when
(his/her) conscious objective is to cause such result. <See
Intent: Specific, Instruction 2.3-1.>
Conclusion
In summary, the state must prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that 1) <insert name of decedent> committed
suicide, and 2) that the defendant intentionally caused or aided <insert name
of decedent> to commit suicide.
If you unanimously find that the state
has proved beyond a reasonable doubt each of the elements of the crime of
manslaughter in the second degree, then you shall find the defendant guilty. On
the other hand, if you unanimously find that the state has failed to prove
beyond a reasonable doubt any of the elements, you shall then find the defendant
not guilty.