State v. Winders

REYNOLDSON, Chief Justice.

The controlling issue in this appeal is whether a jury instruction impermissibly shifted the burden of proof to defendant Virginia Lee Winders. Because the trial court erred in giving the instruction, we reverse and remand.

I. Defendant is a thirty-five year old Cedar Rapids resident with two children. She shares her home with her friend, Lon-ny Willard. Willard operates a wrecker service from defendant’s address and does body work on vehicles in the garages and sheds on the premises.

In May 1979, Earl Willard, Lonny’s uncle, purchased a 1974 one-half ton Chevrolet…