LAW SPECIFIC TO THIS CASE

The state accuses the defendant of having committed the offense of capital murder.

Relevant Statutes

A person commits the offense of capital murder if the person intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual ten years of age or older but younger than fifteen years of age.

[Include the following if an instruction on causation is appropriate but no issue of concurrent causation is raised by the facts.]

A person causes the death of another if, but for the person’s conduct, the death of the other would not have occurred.

[Include the following if the facts raise an issue concerning concurrent causation.]

A person causes the death of another if, but for the person’s conduct operating either alone or concurrently with another cause, the death of the other would not have occurred, unless the concurrent cause was clearly sufficient to produce the result and the conduct of the person was clearly insufficient.

Definitions

Intentionally Causing the Death of an Individual

A person intentionally causes the death of an individual if the person has the conscious objective or desire to cause that death.

Knowingly Causing the Death of an Individual

A person knowingly causes the death of an individual if the person is aware that his conduct is reasonably certain to cause that death.

Application of Law to Facts

You must determine whether the state has proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, two elements. The elements are that—

1. the defendant, in [county] County, Texas, on or about [date], intentionally or knowingly caused the death of [name] [insert specific allegations, e.g., by shooting [name] with a gun]; and
2. [name] was at least ten but younger than fifteen years of age.

[Include the following if the jury was instructed in the relevant statutes unit on concurrent causation.]

The state has the burden of proving that the defendant caused the death of [name]. To prove that the defendant caused the death of [name], the state must show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that either—

1. [concurrent cause] did not contribute to causing the death of name;
2. [concurrent cause] was clearly insufficient, by itself, to cause the death of [name]; or
3. the conduct of the defendant was clearly sufficient to cause the death of [name] regardless of [concurrent cause].

[Continue with the following.]

You must all agree on elements 1 and 2 of the offense of capital murder listed above.

If you all agree the state has failed to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, one or both of elements 1 and 2 listed above, you must find the defendant “not guilty.”

If you all agree the state has proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, both of the two elements listed above, you must find the defendant “guilty.”

[Insert any other instructions raised by the evidence. Then continue with the verdict form found in CPJC 2.1, the general charge.]