Wright v. State

D’Angelo Wright v. State of Maryland, No. 40, September Term, 2020. Opinion by Biran, J. CRIMINAL LAW – JURY INSTRUCTION ON FLIGHT OR CONCEALMENT – The Court of Appeals held that, in general, it is error for a trial court to instruct the jury on “flight or concealment” per Maryland Criminal Pattern Jury Instruction 3:24 where the defense does not contest that whoever fled the scene is guilty of the charged offense, and instead contends only that the State failed to prove that the defendant was the fleeing offender. However, defense counsel must expressly and unambiguously state – prior to the…