State of Iowa v. Ronald Ray Murray, Jr.
796 N.W.2d 907
Iowa2011Background
- Murray, Jr. robbed a Keystone, Iowa bank at noon with a gun, wearing a blue jacket and white hood.”
- Police found a white hooded sweatshirt, a blue jacket, a soft-air pistol, two money bands, and cash in Murray’s car.
- Murray was charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree theft, and threats; he was acquitted of threats but convicted of robbery and theft.
- The court of appeals affirmed; on review, the Iowa Supreme Court vacated the court of appeals and affirmed the district court.
- In Instructions, Murray challenged the inclusion of a general-intent instruction alongside specific-intent crimes; the district court had given Instruction No. 16 on general intent.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether giving general and specific intent instructions prejudicially confused the jury | Murray argues instruction 16 allowed reliance on general intent | State argues instruction 16 was appropriate due to assault element of robbery | No reversible error under these facts |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Kellogg, 542 N.W.2d 514 (Iowa 1996) (standard for reviewing jury instructions for errors of law)
- State v. Hanes, 790 N.W.2d 545 (Iowa 2010) (presumed prejudice absent clear absence of prejudice)
- State v. Fintel, 689 N.W.2d 95 (Iowa 2004) (consideration of instructions as a whole in error review)
- State v. Taggart, 430 N.W.2d 423 (Iowa 1988) (binding authority on jury instruction errors)