VA · jury_instructions
Va. Model Jury Instr. Crim. No. 19.200
Attempted Killing of Deer at Night by Light—Inference of Attempt
The defendant is charged with the crime of attempting to kill a deer at night by light. The
Commonwealth must prove beyond a reasonable doubt each of the following elements of that
crime:
(1) That the defendant attempted to kill a deer; and
(2) That he did so between a half hour after sunset on any day and a half hour before sunrise the
following day; and
(3) That he did so by use of a [light attached to any vehicle; spotlight; flashlight].
[If you find from the evidence that, without good cause, there was a flashing of a [light attached
to any vehicle; spotlight; flashlight] from any vehicle between a half hour after sunset on any day
and a half hour before sunrise the following day by any person who was then in possession of a
[firearm; crossbow; bow and arrow; speargun], then you may infer that the defendant attempted to
kill a deer, unless, from all of the evidence, you have a reasonable doubt as to whether the
defendant attempted to kill a deer.]
If you find from the evidence that the Commonwealth has proved beyond a reasonable doubt
each of the above elements of the crime as charged, then you shall find the defendant guilty [and
fix his punishment at:
(1) Confinement in jail for a specific time, but not more than six (6) months; or
(2) A fine of a specific amount, but not more than $1,000; or
(3) Confinement in jail for a specific time, but not more than six (6) months, and a fine of a specific
amount, but not more than $1,000].
If you find that the Commonwealth has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt any one or
more of the elements of the crime, then you shall find the defendant not guilty.
History
Virginia Model Jury Instructions – Criminal, Release 26, October 2025. The unannotated set, posted by the Supreme Court of Virginia at vacourts.gov; the book states that it is made available with the permission of the publisher, Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
Provenance
- Source
- vacourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-11
- Edition
- crim-2025-10-01
- Content hash
408973390725ce77f00a63a511a6540383e50e847cfac60b79a7106102985ee1
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