AL · jury_instructions
Ala. Pattern Jury Instr. (Criminal) 13A-5-40(A)(1)IH
Murder During Kidnapping in the First Degree (Or Attempt Thereof) (Interference With Governmental or Political Function)
MURDER DURING KIDNAPPING IN THE FIRST DEGREE
(Or Attempt Thereof)*
(Interference With Governmental or Political Function)
The defendant is charged with capital murder. The law states that an
intentional murder committed during a kidnapping in the first degree is capital
murder.
A person commits an intentional murder if he/she causes the death of
another person and , in performing the act or acts that cause the death of that
person, he/she intends to kill that person (or another person).
A person commits a kidnapping in the first degree if he/she abducts another
person with intent to interfere with the performance of any governmental or political
function. [13A-6-43(6)]
To convict, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt each of the
following elements of an intentional murder during a kidnapping in the first degree:
(1) That (name of deceased) is dead;
(2) That the defendant (name of defendant) caused the death of (name of
deceased) by (state the alleged act, e.g., shooting) him/her;
(3) That in committing the act(s) that caused the death of (name of
deceased) the defendant intended to kill the deceased or another
person;
(4) That the defendant (name of defendant) abducted (name of victim);
(5) That the defendant intended to interfere with the performance of any
governmental or political function; (AND)
(6) That the murder took place during the kidnapping.
Abduct means to restrain a person with intent to prevent his/her liberation
by (either): [Read as appropriate]
(1) Secreting or holding him/her in a place where he/she is not likely to be
found;
(OR)
(2) Using or threatening to use deadly physical force. [13A-6-40(2)]
Restrain means to intentionally or knowingly restrict a person's movements
unlawfully and without consent, so as to interfere substantially with his/her liberty
by: [Read as appropriate]
(1) Moving him/her from one place to another;
(OR)
(2) Confining him/her: [Read as appropriate]
(a) In the place where the restriction commences;
(OR)
(b) In a place to which he/she has been moved.
Restraint is without consent if it is accomplished by: [Read as appropriate]
(1) Physical force, intimidation, or deception;
(OR)
(2) Any means, including acquiescence of the victim, if he/she is: [Read
as appropriate]
(a) A child less than 16 years old;
(OR)
(b) An incompetent person;
(AND) The parent, guardian, or other person or institution having lawful control or
custody of him/her has not acquiesced in the movement or confinement. [13A -6-
40(1)]
[Read as appropriate] Deadly physical force means physical force that,
under the circumstances in which it is used, is readily capable of causing death or
serious physical injury. [13A-1-2(6)]
[Read as appropriate] Serious physical injury is physical injury that creates
a substantial risk of death or that causes serious and protracted disfigurement,
protracted impairment of health, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of
any bodily organ; or a penetrating gunshot wound inflicted by a firearm. [13A -1-
2(14)]
[Read as appropriate] Death, by definition, would constitute serious
physical injury. [See 13A-1-2(6) & 13A-1-2(14)]
[Read as appropriate] A firearm is a weapon from which a shot is
discharged by gunpowder. [13A-8-1(5)]
During means in the course of the commission of or in connection with (or
in immediate flight from) the commission of the kidnapping. [13A-5-39(2)]
[Read as appropriate - Voluntary Release]** A person does not commit
kidnapping in the first degree if he/she voluntarily releases the victim alive, and not
suffering from serious physical injury, in a safe place prior to apprehension. [13A -
6-43(b)]
A person acts intentionally with respect to a result or to conduct described
by a statute defining an offense when his/her purpose is to cause that result or to
engage in that conduct. [13A-2-2(1)]
A person acts intentionally when it is his/her purpose to cause the death of
another person. The intent to kill must be real and specific.
A person acts knowingly with respect to conduct or to a circumstance
described by a statute defining an offense when he/she is aware that his/her
conduct is of that nature or that the circumstance exists. [13A-2-2(2)]
If you find from the evidence that the State has proved beyond a reasonable
doubt each of the above elements of the offense of intentional murder during a
kidnapping in the first degree, as charged, then you shall find the defendant guilty
of capital murder.
If you find that the State has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt any
one or more of the elements of the offense of intentional murder during a
kidnapping in the first degree, then you cannot find the defendant guilty of capital
murder.
(If lesser-included offenses are included, the court should instruct on
those offenses at that point.)
Provenance
- Source
- judicial.alabama.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-08-20
- Edition
- 2026-08-20
- Content hash
4d174b769d5030384550d63475db82ecb7564354ba57d4582cb2b51ca888adf1
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