LA § 6:6 Mistake of fact

State: Louisiana

Louisiana Criminal Jury Instructions (2017)
§ 6:6 Mistake of fact

Reasonable ignorance or mistake of fact is a defense to a prosecution for a crime if the reasonable ignorance or mistake precludes that presence of a mental element required for that crime.

The offense charged requires [describe the mental element].

Thus, if you find:

(1) that the defendant was ignorant or made a mistake regarding a fact; and
(2) that his ignorance or mistake was reasonable; and
(3) that his ignorance or mistake precluded the existence of [describe the mental element]; then you must find the defendant not guilty [of the offense].

Updated: 7/12/2017