People v. Fong Ah Sing

Ross, J. The defendant was charged with „the crime of murder. His defense ivas that of alibi—he claiming that, at the time the deceased was killed, he (defendant) was at certain'' rooms about three blocks distant from where the murder was committed. Upon that question the evidence was conflicting. And upon that state of facts the defendant, through his counsel, requested the court to charge the jury as follows: —

“Whilst the prosecution must establish beyond a reasonable doubt the guilt of the defendant, it is not incumbent on the defendant to prove an alibi beyond a reasonable doubt. Though the evidence offered to establish an alibi falls short of the weight of moral certainty as to the existence of the alibi, yet if it leave in the minds of the jury such a doubt or uncertainty that taken by itself they could not find for or against the alibi, they are bound to carry such doubt into the case of the prosecution and to array it there as an element of the reasonable doubt, beyond which the prosecution must establish guilt. The defendant is entitled as much to the benefit of. such doubt as to any other doubt raised by the evidence; and if its weight, alone or added to that of any other, be sufficient to reduce belief in their minds as to the defendant’s guilt to a reasonable doubt, they must acquit.”

This instruction the court below refused to give, but in its stead gave the jury as the law upon the subject of alibi the following:—

“If the jury find the defendant to have been at another place, as for instance in the society’s rooms which have been spoken of in the evidence at the time of this alleged shooting; and if his being there then creates a reasonable doubt of his having been present at the place of the alleged crime at the time of its alleged commission, he should have the benefit of that reasonable doubt and be acquitted.”

The instruction requested was substantially correct, ánd should have been given. The charge given was incorrect, and [255]should not have been given. The commission of a criminal offense implies, of course, the presence of the defendant at the necessary time and place. Proof of an alibi is, therefore, as much of a traverse of the crime charged as any other defense, and proof tending to establish it, though not clear, may, nevertheless, with the other facts of the case raise doubt enough to produce an acquittal. A reasonable doubt of the defendant’s presence at the time and place necessary for the commission of the crime would seem necessarily to raise a reasonable doubt of his commission of it. But according to the charge of the court below, the defendant was not to have the benefit of any doubt in regard to the alleged alibi, unless the jury should find as a fact that he Avas at another place than the place of shooting Avhen the shooting occurred. It is ob\\7ious that the finding of that fact would itself have established the alibi, and that would have ended the case of the prosecution. But proof tending to establish an alibi, though insufficient of itself to establish that fact, is not to be excluded from the case. Whatever doubt, if any, such testimony may raise in the minds of the jurors, is for their consideration; and if its Aveight, alone or added to that of other evidence in the case, be sufficient to reduce belief in their minds as to the defendant’s guilt, to a reasonable doubt, they should acquit; for in every criminal case, Avhen all the proof is in, the final question for the jury is, are all the essential averments of the indictment proved beyond a reasonable doubt?