NC · jury_instructions
N.C.P.I.—Crim. 101.10
BURDEN OF PROOF AND REASONABLE DOUBT.
The defendant has entered a plea of "not guilty." The fact that the
defendant has been [indicted] [charged] is no evidence of guilt. Under
our system of justice, when a defendant pleads "not guilty," the
defendant is not required to prove the defendant’s innocence; the
defendant is presumed to be innocent. The State must prove to you that
the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
A reasonable doubt is a doubt based on reason and common sense,
arising out of some or all of the evidence that has been presented, or
lack or insufficiency of the evidence, as the case may be. Proof beyond a
reasonable doubt is proof that fully satisfies or entirely convinces you of
the defendant's guilt.1
History
N.C.P.I.—Crim. 101.10 (June 2008). Prepared by the North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Judges' Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions, assisted by the UNC School of Government; published by the School of Government.
Provenance
- Source
- sog.unc.edu
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- 2026-09-24
- Content hash
5edb44c09a4ff1ffae35589326d1fdcab0e21961fb6de2127eb426e3f69ce456
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