State v. Caldwell

The sole issue in this case is whether a jury instruction stating "the law presumes that every man intends the natural and probable consequences of his own acts" violated due process requirements for use of presumptions in criminal cases. We hold that the instruction violated the due process guaranties of the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution and article 1, section 3 of the Washington Constitution. The conviction of first degree assault is reversed and the case is remanded for a new trial.

On the evening of August 11, 1977, John Parmon and Rudy Perez became associated with…