State v. Bogle

MEYER, Justice.

This case presents two questions of first impression to this Court. The first question is whether the trial court erred in giving a jury instruction on willful blindness. We hold that it did and order a new trial. The second question is whether the defendant was entitled to a jury instruction that the evidence of his character trait of being “law-abiding” could be considered as substantive evidence of his innocence. We hold that he was entitled to the instruction.

Since we award defendant a new trial, we relate only the facts necessary for an understanding of the issues on…