State v. Cox

This appeal examines whether the trial court committed reversible error by failing to specifically instruct that the burden of proof in a criminal case is upon the State. We conclude that the totality of circumstances was such that the omission of the instruction does not require reversal of the conviction.

On September 1, 1977, a Seattle gas station employee reported the theft of cash and various automobile equipment including four new tires and a battery alternator tester. The employee informed the police that he had observed a man in a long coat running from the station towards the west,…