State v. Jenkins, 355 N.E.2d 825 (Ohio Ct. App. 1976). · Go Syfert
State v. Jenkins, 355 N.E.2d 825 (Ohio Ct. App. 1976). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
G Cite
cited 6× by 6 distinct cases, 1997–2020 · 3 courts↑ Rising · …an almost instantaneous eruption of events at p. 102 ✓ Topic ↗
cited 3× by 3 distinct cases, 2015–2023→ Stable · …an almost instantaneous eruption of events. ✓ Topic ↗
cited 3× by 2 distinct cases · …deliberate and premeditated malice, ✓
308 citation events (196 in the last 25 years) across 6 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: State v. Finklea (ohioctapp, 2026-05-14)
Treatment trajectory · 1976 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1976 2001 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 33 distinct citers. How cited ↗
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Finklea
Ohio Ct. App. · 2026 · confidence medium
State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15 , 19 (1997), quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist. 1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Brady
Ohio Ct. App. · 2026 · confidence medium
Three factors, outlined by the Supreme Court in State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15 , 19 (1997), have traditionally been considered to determine whether prior calculation and design exists: “(1) Did the accused and victim know each other, and if so, was that relationship strained? (2) Did the accused give thought or preparation to choosing the murder weapon or murder site? and (3) Was the act drawn out or ‘an almost instantaneous eruption of events?’” Taylor at 19, quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist. 1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Wilson
Ohio Ct. App. · 2026 · confidence medium
“Instead, each case turns on the particular facts and evidence presented at trial.” Id. {¶105} The Supreme Court of Ohio has held, “[w]here evidence adduced at trial reveals the presence of sufficient time and opportunity for the planning of an act of homicide to constitute prior calculation, and the circumstances surrounding the homicide show a scheme designed to implement the calculated decision to kill, a finding by the trier PAGE 29 OF 35 Case No. 2024-P-0072 of fact of prior calculation and design is justified.” Cotton at paragraph three of the syllabus. {¶106} The Supreme Court…
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Oliver
Ohio Ct. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15 , 19 (1997), quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist. 1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Hatcher
Ohio Ct. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Further, the Ohio Supreme Court in Walker specified three factors a court should consider when determining whether a defendant acted with prior calculation and design: (1) Did the accused and victim know each other, and if so, was that relationship strained; (2) Did the accused give thought or preparation to choosing the murder weapon or murder site; and (3) Was the act drawn out or “an almost spontaneous eruption of events?” Orr at ¶ 78 , quoting State v. Taylor, 1997-Ohio-243, ¶ 19 , citing State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist. 1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Harris
Ohio Ct. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Id. at ¶ 39, quoting State v. Maxwell, 2014-Ohio-1019, ¶ 148 . {¶31} To aid this inquiry, courts consider three factors: “(1) Did the accused and victim know each other, and if so, was that relationship strained? (2) Did the accused give thought or preparation to choosing the murder weapon or murder site? and (3) Was the act drawn out or ‘an almost instantaneous eruption of events’?” State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15 , 19 (1997), quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist. 1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Buchanan
Ohio Ct. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
One such factor is “whether the act was ‘drawn out’ or ‘an almost instantaneous eruption of events.’” Id., quoting id., citing State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist. 1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Roberts (2×)
Ohio · 2025 · confidence medium
And when the evidence presented at trial “reveals the presence of sufficient time and opportunity for the planning of an act of homicide to constitute prior calculation, and the circumstances surrounding the homicide show a scheme designed to implement the calculated decision to kill, a finding by the trier of fact of prior calculation and design is justified.” Cotton at paragraph three of the syllabus. {¶ 147} In State v. Franklin, 2002-Ohio-5304 , this court reiterated that there are three “pertinent” considerations in determining whether prior calculation and design exist: “‘(1…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Sopko
Ohio Ct. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
The Ohio Supreme Court has identified several other factors to be weighed along with the totality of the circumstances surrounding the murder when determining whether the defendant acted with prior calculation and design, including (1) whether the defendant and the victim knew each other and, if so, whether the relationship was strained, (2) whether there was thought or preparation in choosing the murder weapon or murder site, and (3) whether the act was “drawn out” or “an almost instantaneous eruption of events.” Taylor at id., citing State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Pleasant
Ohio Ct. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
However, courts traditionally consider three factors: “‘(1) Did the accused and victim know each other, and if so, was that relationship strained? (2) Did the accused give thought or preparation to choosing the murder weapon or murder site? and (3) Was the act drawn out or “an almost instantaneous eruption of events?”’” Id. at ¶ 20, quoting Taylor at 19 , quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist. 1976). {¶38} Pleasant contends there is no evidence he “planned ahead of time to kill his grandfather.” Pleasant asserts that he helped his grandparents, that he ha…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Williams
Ohio Ct. App. · 2024 · confidence medium
In this regard, it is reasonable to conclude that aggravated murder may be established where a killing occurs with purpose and the defendant formed the design or intent to kill before the act, i.e., “prior calculation and design” does not necessarily require that the act be planned, contrived, or schemed beforehand, but there must be evidence of reflection or deliberation before the defendant’s purposeful action(s). {¶102} The Supreme Court of Ohio has underscored that there is no “bright-line test that emphatically distinguishes between the presence or absence of ‘prior calculation…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Elliott
Ohio Ct. App. · 2024 · confidence medium
Victim-impact evidence “is admissible when it is related to ‘the facts attendant to the offense.’ ” State v. Powell, 132 Ohio St.3d 233 , 2012-Ohio-2577, ¶ 134 , quoting State v. Fautenberry, 72 Ohio St.3d 435, 440 (1995); accord State v. Beuke, 38 Ohio St.3d 29, 40 (1989) (“Victim background evidence may be relevant to establishing facts of consequence or otherwise necessary to prove an element of the crime.”). {¶ 117} In this case, the state charged Elliott with aggravated murder under R.C. 2903.01(A), which required the state to prove Elliott caused Best’s death “purposely…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Nicholson
Ohio · 2024 · confidence medium
These factors are: “(1) Did the accused and victim know each other, and if so, was that relationship strained? (2) Did the accused give thought or preparation to choosing the murder weapon or murder site? (3) Was the act drawn out or ‘an almost instantaneous eruption of events?’ ” State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15, 19, 676 N.E.2d 82 (1997), quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102, 355 N.E.2d 825 (8th Dist.1976). a.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Roundtree
Ohio Ct. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
No. 16AP-397, 2017-Ohio-1527, ¶ 23 , citing Cotton at 11 . {¶ 69} The Supreme Court has listed the following three factors as useful in reviewing a defendant's claim that evidence was insufficient to prove prior calculation and design: " '(1) Did the accused and victim know each other, and if so, was that relationship strained? (2) Did the accused give thought or preparation to choosing the murder weapon or murder site? (3) Was the act drawn out or "an almost instantaneous eruption of events"?' " Hundley at ¶ 61 , quoting State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15, 19 (1997), quoting State v. Jenkin…
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Reyes-Figueroa
Ohio Ct. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15, 19 , 676 N.E.2d 82 (1997), quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 , 355 N.E.2d 825, 828 (8th Dist.1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Johnson
Ohio Ct. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
Taylor at 19, quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist.1976). {¶9} In response to this argument, the State contends that counts two and three—which both charged Mr. Johnson with aggravated murder in violation of R.C. 2903.01(B)—did not require the State to prove prior calculation and design.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Truss
Ohio Ct. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
Evidence of an act committed on the spur of the moment or after momentary consideration is not evidence of a premeditated decision or a studied consideration of the method and the means to cause a death." Id. at ¶ 18. {¶ 33} Since the enactment of R.C. 2903.01 in 1974, the Supreme Court of Ohio has continually emphasized that "there is no 'bright-line test that emphatically distinguishes between the presence or absence of "prior calculation and design." Instead, each case turns on the particular facts and evidence presented at trial.' " Walker at ¶ 19 , quoting State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Hamad
Ohio Ct. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
Id., citing Taylor, supra, at 20 . {¶109} Three factors are traditionally considered on judicial review in determining whether a defendant acted with “prior calculation and design”: “‘(1) Did the accused and victim know each other, and if so, was that relationship strained? (2) Did the accused give thought or preparation to choosing the murder weapon or murder site? and (3) Was the act drawn out or “an almost instantaneous eruption of events?”’” State v. Walker, 150 Ohio St.3d 409 , 2016-Ohio-8295, ¶20 , quoting Taylor, supra, at 19 , quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Callender
Ohio Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
The Supreme Court of Ohio also listed factors to consider: [T]he court of appeals found three factors important in determining whether prior calculation and design exists: (1) Did the accused and victim know each other, and if so, was that relationship strained? (2) Did the accused give thought or preparation to choosing the murder weapon or murder site? and (3) Was the act drawn out or "an almost instantaneous eruption of events?" State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15, 19 (1991), quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist.1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Mount
Ohio Ct. App. · 2014 · confidence medium
Lorain No. 12CA010188, 2013-Ohio-5367, ¶ 6 , quoting State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15, 19 (1997), citing State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist.1976).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Guerra
Ohio Ct. App. · 2013 · confidence medium
State v. Taylor, 78 Ohio St.3d 15 , 19 (1978), quoting State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist.1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Reed
Ohio Ct. App. · 2013 · confidence medium
Those factors were: “(1) Did the accused and the victim know each other, and if so, was the relationship strained? (2) Did the accused give thought and preparation to choosing the murder weapon or murder site? and (3) Was the act drawn out or ‘an almost instantaneous eruption of events’?” Id. at 19 , citing State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102 (8th Dist.1976).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Goodwin v. Johnson (2×) also: Cited "see"
6th Cir. · 2011 · confidence medium
State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99 , 355 N.E.2d 825, 828 (1976).
examined Cited as authority (rule) State v. Washington, 06ap-2 (6-21-2007) (3×) also: Cited "see"
Ohio Ct. App. · 2007 · confidence medium
See, also, State v. Hanna , 95 Ohio St.3d 285 , 2002-Ohio-2221 , at ¶ 39 (purpose and prior calculation must be reached by a definite process of reasoning in advance of the murder, which process includes a mental plan involving studied consideration of the method and means of causing death); Jenkins , supra, at 102 (prior calculation and design includes an analysis of the means by which to kill).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Herring, Unpublished Decision (5-28-2002) (2×)
Ohio Ct. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
Jenkins , 48 Ohio App.2d at 102 (satisfying the first element).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) George Monroe Hederson v. Arthur Tate, Jr., Supt.
6th Cir. · 1990 · confidence medium
These factors must be considered and weighed together and viewed under the totality of all circumstances of the homicide. 18 State v. Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 102-03 , 355 N.E.2d 825, 828 (1976). 19 When these factors are considered it becomes clear that a reasonable juror could have found that Hederson acted with prior calculation and design when he killed his wife.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Rohdes
Ohio · 1986 · confidence medium
The statutory elements reasonably deemed to be established in the context of the evidence of a particular case are instrumental to any analysis of lesser included offenses, State v. Jenkins (1976), 48 Ohio App. 2d 99, 102-103 [ 2 O.O.3d 73 ]; a cold comparison of the statutory elements to determine whether they always coincide is irrelevant.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Davis
Ohio Ct. App. · 1982 · confidence medium
This court discussed the requirement of prior calculation and design in State v. Jenkins (1976), 48 Ohio App. 2d 99, at 101-102 [ 2 O.O.3d 73 ]: “Prior calculation and design sets up a more demanding standard than the old first degree murder standard of ‘deliberate and premeditated malice.’ Prior calculation and design requires the accused to have killed purposefully after devising a plan or scheme to kill.
discussed Cited "see" State v. Jones (Slip Opinion) (2×)
Ohio · 2021 · signal: see · confidence high
See Palmer at 569. {¶ 25} The third Taylor guidepost asks, “[W]as the act drawn out or ‘an almost instantaneous eruption of events’?” Id., 78 Ohio St.3d at 19, 676 N.E.2d 82 , quoting Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d at 102 , 355 N.E.2d 825 .
discussed Cited "see" State v. Harris (2×)
Ohio Ct. App. · 2017 · signal: see · confidence high
See Walker at ¶ 20, quoting Taylor at 19, 676 N.E.2d 82 , quoting State v. Jenkins , 48 Ohio App.2d 99 , 102, 355 N.E.2d 825 (8th Dist.1976).
cited Cited "see" State v. Collymore, Unpublished Decision (6-26-2003)
Ohio Ct. App. · 2003 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Jenkins (1976), 48 Ohio App.2d 99 , 102 . {¶ 54} Collymore and the victim certainly knew each other and testimony placed him at the victim's house on the day of the murder.
cited Cited "see" State v. Toth
Ohio · 1977 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Jenkins (1976), 48 Ohio App. 2d 99 ; Committee Comment to R.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." State v. Hicks (2×)
Ohio Ct. App. · 2015 · signal: see also · confidence low
Franklin No. 97APA03-315, 1998 Ohio App. LEXIS 2069 , *16-17 (May 5, 1998) (“That defendant had a gun with him * * * is not, by itself, evidence of a prior calculation and design, given the testimony offered by defendant's girlfriend that he ‘sort of frequently carried a weapon.’”); see also Jenkins, 48 Ohio App.2d 99, 103 , 355 N.E.2d 825 (“That the defendant went to his car, removed a shotgun, and fired a shot in the trunk of the car and two shots at the victim is not, standing alone, evidence of prior calculation and design.”).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
The State of Ohio, Appellee,
v.
Jenkins, Appellant
34198.
Ohio Court of Appeals.
Apr 8, 1976.
355 N.E.2d 825
1976 Ohio App. LEXIS 5775
Mr. John T. Corrigan, prosecuting attorney, for appellee. Mr. Michael J. Occhionero, for appellant.
Manos, Day, Parrinq.
Cited by 128 opinions  |  Published
[*100] MaNos, J.

The defendant-appellant, Richard Jenkins, appeals from the trial court’s judgment following his conviction by jury on one count of aggravated murder, R. C. 2903.01.

On July 14, 1974 at approximately 10:30 p. m. a- shooting incident occurred on the west side of Cleveland that resulted in the death of Patrick Kosman. The prosecution presented evidence from nine eyewitnesses who testified to what occurred that night. The substance of their testimony was as follows: The defendant was standing in the street next to his parked car talking to some friends when Mr. Kosman, the victim, drove by. Kosman was intoxicated and told the defendant, in effect, to get out of the street. The defendant responded by telling Kosman to puli his ear over, which he did. The defendant then whlked to his car and took a “pump” shotgun out of the trunk. He walked to the front of his car and fired one shot into the trunk of Kosman’s car. The evidence is in conflict as to whether Kosman was in the car or just getting out when the first shot was fired. Kosman moved toward the defendant (who was about 25 feet away) and was shot, spun around, and was shot again. The defendant then got into his ear and drove off.

The defendant’s uncorroborated testimony was that Kosman had a gun and that he had gotten out of his car and moved menacingly toward him. The defendant testified that he had fired a warning shot into the parked car and that he then shot Kosman as Kosman went for his gun. The defendant claimed that he acted in self-defense.

The trial court charged the jury on aggravated murder and self-defense. The jury returned a verdict finding the defendant guilty of aggravated murder.

The appellant assigns six errors as follows:

“1. The judgment of the trial court finding the defendant guilty of aggravated murder is against the mani-weight of the evidence and contrary to law.
■. “2. The trial court erred in overruling defendant’s renewed motion for acquittal at the close of all evidence,--in that there was insufficient evidence upon which -a reason[*101] able mind might fairly conclude that the defendant was guilty of aggravated murder beyond a reasonable doubt.
“3. The trial court erred in overruling defendant’s motion for acquittal at the close of the prosecution’s evidence, in that there was insufficient evidence upon which a reasonable mind might fairly conclude that the defendant was guilty of aggravated murder beyond a reasonable doubt, in violation of defendant’s constitutional privilege against self-incrimination, and due process of law.
“4. The trial court committed prejudicial error in failing to instruct the jury upon the lesser included offenses of murder and voluntary manslaughter, contrary to law and in denial of due process of law.
“5. The trial court committed prejudicial and reversible error when it instructed the jury upon the issue of self-defense that ‘if the defendant had reasonable grounds and an honest belief that he was in imminent danger of death and great bodily harm, that the only means of escape from such danger was by killing such assailant * * *’ all contrary to law.
“6. The trial court abused its discretion and committed prejudicial error in unduly restricting defendant’s cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, through which defendant was endeavoring to establish the bias and prejudice of said witnesses.”

I.

We find the first assignment of error to be well taken, as the verdict of guilty of aggravated murder was contrary to law.

The newly amended statute, R. C. 2903.01, reads:

“(A) No person shall purposely, and with prior calculation and design, cause the death of another.”

Prior calculation and design sets up a more demanding'standard than the old first degree murder standard of. “deliberate and premeditated malice.” [1] Prior calculation[*102] and design requires the accused to have killed purposefully after devising a plan or scheme to kill. There must be some kind of studied analysis with its object being the means by. which to ldll. The kind of momentary deliberation or instantaneous premeditation that was the accepted standard under the old statute, as exemplified by State v. Schaffer (1960), 113 Ohio App. 125, is no longer sufficient [2] or acceptable.

The trier of fact must look to the context in which the killing occurred to determine whether there was prior calculation and design. Some of the important factors to be examined and considered in deciding whether a homicide was committed with prior calculation and design include: whether the accused knew the victim prior to the crime, as opposed to a random meeting, alid if the victim was known to him whether the relationship had been strained; whether thought and preparation were given by the accused to the weapon he used to kill and/or the site on which the homicide was to be committed as compared to no such thought or preparation; and whether the act was drawn out over a period of time as against an almost instantaneous eruption of events. These factors must be considered and weighed together and viewed under the totality of all circumstances of the homicide. When the evidence adduced at trial establishes that the victim was unknown to the accused prior to the crime, and that[*103] there was little or no preparation, but rather that the crime was an instantaneous eruption of events, then the trial court shall not charge the jury on aggravated murder. ;If the evidence adduced at trial is legally insufficient to establish any essential element of the crime charged the trial court shall not charge the jury as to that offense. See, State v. Channer (1926), 115 Ohio St. 350; State v. Monago (1974), 38 Ohio St. 2d 223.

With this in mind, we turn to the facts of the case on appeal.

Prom the record it is clear that the defendant did not know the victim, that there had been no previous disagreement, and that the meeting was at random. [3] There is no evidence to indicate any prior preparation to commit a homicide. The incident was not drawn out but was almost spontaneous. That the defendant went to his car, removed a shotgun, and fired a shot in the trunk of the car and two shots at the victim is not, standing alone, evidence of prior calculation and design. The court therefore was in error in allowing the case to go to the jury bn the charge of aggravated murder as the evidence was “ * * * insufficieht to sustain a conviction of such offense * * Criminal Buie 29(A). The evidence produced was sufficient to sustain a finding of guilty to murder, R. C. 2903,02, as there was evidence that the defendant purposefully killed the deceaséd¡

II.

The second and third assignments of error are without merit except as section one of this opinion applies. The court properly found that there was “a great deal of evidence” on each of the elements required to convict the defendant of murder. As long as reasonable minds can reach different conclusions on the evidence, then the question is properly one for the jury. State v. Swiger (1966), 5 Ohio St. 2d 151.

[*104] III.

The fourth and fifth [4] assignments of error are without merit as the instructions given by the trial court were not objected to as required by Criminal Rule 30. [5]

Because of the importance in giving proper instructions to the jury and the confusion as to when an instruction on a lesser included offense is required, we reach the merits of the fourth assignment of error. It is true that the defendant in the trial at bar interposed the affirmative defense of self-defense. Nevertheless, we are not precluded by that fact from permitting the jury to consider the lesser included offense of murder. Despite the fact that the prosecutor has so urged, the rule enunciated in State v. Nolton (1969), 19 Ohio St. 2d 133, 135 does not compel us to ignore a record which does not support the degree of homicide of which the accused was ultimately convicted.

In Notion, the Supreme Court attempted to articulate “a more utilitarian rule” than the general formula that in all cases “where the evidence would support a lesser included offense,” Id. at 134, the jury should be so charged and permitted to return such a verdict. Formulating a new rule, the court said:

“If the evidence adduced on behalf of the defense is such that if accepted by the trier it would constitute a complete defense to all substantive elements of the crime charged, the trier will not be permitted to consider a lesser included offense for the reason that an unreasonable compromise would be invited on the state’s evidence.” Id. at 135.

This court does not interpret this language to mean[*105] that in any case in which an accused asserts an affirmative defense, a trial or appellate court is, for that reason alone, prevented per se from considering the degree of homicidal guilt which the evidence in the record should permit to be submitted to the trier of fact. As to that aspect of the case-= in-chief, the burden rests squarely on the prosecution; the court is accordingly compelled to consider whether the state has met its burden of proof, beyond a reasonable doubt, as to every element of the offense charged whether or not the accused interposes an affirmative defense at trial. The rule is not automatic; its application depends on the state of the record in each case, whether on the evidence the jury could reasonably conclude that the state had proved only the elements of a lesser included offense,' and not all of the elements of the principal charge. This must be so because if the bare assertions of an affirmative de: fense is a waiver of the right of the accused to have submitted' to the jury the appropriate offenses which the evidence supports the defendant and the state are denied !the right to have the verdict conform to the evidence. •

The Nolton language which immediately follows the above quoted verbal formula is instructive; it limits substantially the previously stated Nolton rule:

■ • “On the contrary, if the trier could reasonably find against the state and for the accused upon one or more of the elements of the crime charged and for the state and against the accused on the remaining elements, which by themselves would sustain a conviction upon a lesser included offense, then a charge on the lesser included offense is both warranted and required, not' only foi the benefit of the state but for .the benefit of the accused. ” Id. at 135. (Emphasis: added.) F '■ • •

The facts in Nolton bolster our interpretation of its holding. In that case,' intentional shooting was clekrly proved by the' state. The' only question was whether such intentional shooting was justifiable ¡by- reason of ■'sélf-de-fense. 'To have permitted the' jury to return- a verdict on á lesser included offense without intent■ as one of its -elements would have permitted the trier of fact the option to return[*106] an unreasonable compromise verdict which the rule was specifically designed to avoid. .

Similarly in State v. Fox (1972), 31 Ohio St. 2d 58, the Supreme Court applied the Ñolton formula to prohibit the jury from considering a lesser included offense of manslaughter where the principal charge was murder in the second degree. The evidence clearly demonstrated an intentional killing; the only factual question was whether the accused intentionally killed with justification, i. e. in self-defense, or not. Thus conviction of the lesser included offense of manslaughter, which does not include intention to kill, would have been an unreasonable result on that record. Conversely, in the instant case, both the principal charge, aggravated murder, and the lesser included offense, murder, require proof of the element of intent. Intent to kill, with or without justification was clearly shown by the record here.

But with respect to the element of prior calculation and design which separates aggravated nrarder from its lesser ineuded offense of murder the jury could reasonably have concluded, once having rejected the affirmative defense of self-defense, either that prior calculation and design had been proved or that it had not- Under such circumstances, the lesser included offense should have been charged to the jury, even though the affirmative defense, if believed by the jury, would have been a complete defense to all the substantive elements of the principal charge.

IV.

The sixth assignment of error is held tq be without merit. The defendant claims he was improperly denied the right to cross-examine the eyewitnesses as to certain prior events which would have effectively impeached their testimony but the defendant himself was allowed to testify as to the possible hostility of some of the prosecution’s witnesses, and the reason for that hostility. Though we believed that cross-examination should have been allowed as to possible bias of those witnesses, it was harmless error in the context and circumstances, of the case, and in light of the evidence adduced. As the Supreme Court said in[*107] Michigan v. Tucker (1974), 417 U. S. 433, 446, "*** the law doss, not require .that a defendant receive'-a '.perfect: trial, only a-fair, one *;;? V'.’. ...

A modification of the judgment is .required. The-cause; is hereby, remanded to. the trial court with' the ■ instructions that 'judgment' be ■ entéred finding' defendant-appellant 'guilty óf murder under R. C. 2903.02, and .that.bend tence be- -'pronounced. accordingly. '• • " ■'

’• . ’ - . ■. " Judgment accordingly:’

• Day/P. J., and Parrinq,-J., concur.
1

The old statute reads: “N° person shall purposely, and either of deliberate and premeditated malice, or by means of poison, or in perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate rape, arson, robbery, or burglary, kill another.” K. C. 2901.01, Murder in the First Degree.

2

As the drafting committee commented “By judicial interpretation in Ohio, murder can be premeditated even though the fatal act is conceived and executed on the spur of the moment. See, State v. Schaffer, 113 Ohio App. 125 (Lawarence Co. App., 1960) (sic). In the Technical Committee’s view, however, it is a contradiction in terms to speak of instantaneous or nearly instantaneous premeditation. Accordingly, the Committee has employed the phrase, ‘prior calculation and design,’ to indicate an act of studied care in planning or analyzing the means of the crime, as well as a scheme compassing the death of the victim. Neither the degree of care nor the length of time the offender takes to ponder the crime beforehand are critical factors in themselves, but they must be sufficient to meet the proposed test of ‘prior calculation and design.’" In this context, momentary deliberation is considered insufficient to constitute a studied scheme to kill.” ’'

3

The simple iaet that the accused did not know the victim is not conclusive on the issue of whether there was “prior calculation and design.” If evidence was adduced that the defendant had planned to kill someone at random, that would be sufficient to send the case to the jury. There was no such evidence in the case before us.

4

There would be no error present in any event, as the instruction as to self-defense was substantially equivalent to the one approved in Graham v. State (1918), 98 Ohio St. 77, 78-79.

5

Criminal Rule 30 states in part: “No party may assign as error any portion of the charge or omission therefrom unless he objects thereto before the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating specifically the matter to which he objects and the grounds of his objection. Opportunity shall be given to make the objection out of the hearing of the jury.”