Law Libraries' NewsLog

Today's term comes from the Criminal Jury Instructions Glossary of Terms:

Dangerous Instrument: "Dangerous instrument" means any instrument, article or substance which, under the circumstances in which it is used or attempted or threatened to be used, is capable of causing death or serious physical injury.  It includes:

• a vehicle. "Vehicle" means a motor vehicle, a snowmobile, any aircraft, or any vessel equipped for propulsion by mechanical means or sail.
• a dog that has been commanded to attack, except a dog owned by a law enforcement agency of the state or any political subdivision thereof or of the federal government when such dog is in the performance of its duties under the direct supervision, care and control of an assigned law enforcement officer.

It is important to note that the article need not be inherently dangerous; all that is required is that the article was capable of causing death or serious physical injury under the circumstances in which it was used.  Any article or substance, without limitation and even though harmless under normal use, may be found by you to be a dangerous instrument, if under the circumstances of its use or threatened or attempted use, it is readily capable of producing serious physical injury or death.

Source:  General Statutes § 53a-3 (7) (applies to Penal Code).