HI 7.13 IGNORANCE OR MISTAKE OF FACT
HAWAI’I JURY INSTRUCTIONS
HI 7.13 IGNORANCE OR MISTAKE OF FACT
In any prosecution for an offense, it is a defense that the Defendant engaged in the prohibited conduct under ignorance or mistake of fact if the ignorance or mistake negates the state of mind required to establish an element of the offense.
[Thus, for example, a person is provided a defense to a charge based on an intentional or knowing state of mind, if the person is mistaken (either reasonably, negligently, or recklessly) as to a fact that negates the person’s state of mind required to establish an element of the offense; however, a reckless mistake would not afford a defense to a charge based on a reckless state of mind.]
[Although ignorance or mistake would otherwise afford a defense to the offense charged, the defense is not available if the Defendant would be guilty of another offense had the situation been as the Defendant supposed. In such a case, the Defendant may be convicted of the offense of which the Defendant would be guilty had the situation been as the Defendant supposed.]
The burden is upon the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant was not ignorant or mistaken as to a fact that negates the state of mind required to establish an element of the offense. If the prosecution fails to meet its burden, then you must find the Defendant not guilty.
