SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1CR22-361 09/16/05

FIRST DEGREE AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT

(THREATENS TO USE DEADLY WEAPON)

13 V.S.A. § 1043(a)(2)

The State has charged (Def)_______________ with first degree aggravated domestic assault, as follows:

[Read the charge.]

Every crime is made up of essential elements.  Before (Def)_______________ can be found guilty of the charge, the State must have proven each of the essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt.  In this case, the essential elements are that on the date and at the place alleged,

(1) (Def)_______________;

(2) was armed with a deadly weapon, allegedly (weapon)_______________;

(3) (Def)_______________ threatened to use the deadly weapon on (victim)_______________, by (specific acts)_______________; and

(4) the other person, (victim)_______________, was a [family] [household] member.

The first essential element is that (Def)_______________ is the person who committed the alleged acts.

The second essential element is that (Def)_______________ was armed with a deadly weapon.  The term deadly weapon means any firearm, or other weapon, device, instrument, material or substance, which in the manner it is used or is intended to be used is known to be capable of producing death or serious bodily injury.  Serious bodily injury means bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes substantial loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ or substantial impairment of health, or substantial disfigurement.  The term bodily injury means physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition.  The State must prove that the weapon was capable of causing serious bodily injury, not that (Def)_______________ actually caused serious bodily injury.  You may find that a firearm is a deadly weapon, whether or not the gun is loaded or capable of being fired.

The third essential element is that (Def)_______________ threatened to use the deadly weapon on (victim)_______________, by (specific acts)_______________.  To threaten another person means to communicate, by words or by deeds, an intent to inflict harm upon that other person.  The threat may be explicit, for example, it may be a direct verbal threat.  The threat may also be implicit, consisting of words or conduct which a reasonable person would understand to be a threat.  Whether the threat was explicit or implicit, the State must have proven that (Def)_______________ communicated an intent to inflict harm upon (victim)_______________.

The last essential element is that (victim)_______________ was a [family] [household] member. [A family member means a person related to (Def)_______________ by blood, marriage, civil union, or adoption.] [A household member is a person who either lives with, or has lived together with (Def)_______________, or a person who shares occupancy or has shared occupancy of a dwelling with (Def)_______________, or a person who is engaged in or has engaged in a sexual relationship with (Def)_______________.  The definition also includes minors or adults who are dating or who have dated.  Dating means a social relationship of a romantic nature.  Factors that you may consider when determining whether a dating relationship exists or existed include the nature of the relationship, the length of time the relationship has existed, the frequency of interaction between the parties, and the length of time since the relationship was terminated, if applicable.]

All of the elements of the offense must have been present at the same time.  If the State has not proven each of the essential elements of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt, then you must find (Def)_______________ not guilty.  However, if the State has proven all of the essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt, you must return a verdict of guilty.