Rule 303 - Presumptions in Criminal Cases(a) Scope. This rule governs the application of statutory and common law presumptions, including statutory provisions that certain facts are prima facie evidence of other facts or of guilt in criminal cases.(b) Submission to jury. The court may not direct a verdict against an accused based on a presumption or statutory provisions that certain facts are prima facie evidence of other facts or of guilt. The court may permit a jury to infer guilt or a fact relevant to guilt based on a statutory or common law presumption or prima facie evidence, if the evidence as a whole supports guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. (c) Instructing the jury. Whenever the existence of a presumed fact against the accused is submitted to the jury, the court in instructing the jury should avoid charging in terms of a presumption. The charge must include an instruction that the jurors may draw reasonable inferences from facts proved beyond a reasonable doubt and may convict the accused in reliance upon an inference of fact if they conclude that such inference is valid and if the inference convinces them of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and not otherwise.Adopted effective 1/1/2015.Maine Restyling Note [November 2014]
The Federal Rules of Evidence do not deal with presumptions in the context of criminal cases. The Maine Rule has been restyled in accordance with the federal restyling format.
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