Joyce v. Government of the Virgin Islands

MEMORANDUM OPINION

(October 20, 2005)

Appellant, Elwin Joyce, was convicted in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands [hereinafter “Superior Court”]2 on three counts, specifically one count of rape in the first degree, pursuant to V.I. CODE Ann. tit. 14 § 1701(2) and two counts of unlawful sexual contact, pursuant to 14 V.I.C. § 1708(1). Joyce now appeals his conviction on Count I, rape in the first degree. He contends on appeal that the trial court committed reversible error in giving a flawed jury instruction with *365regard to intent, essentially relieving the government’s burden of proving…