The district court denied defendant's request, finding that the inclusion of defendant's requested instruction on felony murder eliminated the need to give the lesser included offense instructions. The district court relied on State v. Williams, 263 Kan. 134, Syl. ¶ 1, 947 P.2d 25 (1997), which stated: "If the evidence of the underlying felony [is] strong, no instruction on the lesser included offenses [is] required." Because defendant "requested the instructions, this court must review the matter in a light most favorable to" defendant.
State v. Moncla, 262 Kan. 58, 73-74, 936 P.2d 727 (1997). This court discussed in State v. Williams, 263 Kan. 134, 137-38, 947 P.2d 25 (1997), the fact that appellate courts apply a different analysis when determining whether lesser included offense instructions should be given when the crime charged is felony murder. We stated:
Furthermore, review of the admission or exclusion of evidence is governed by the harmless error rule. State v. Williams, 263 Kan. 134, Syl. ¶ 3, 947 P.2d 25 (1997). The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right "to be confronted with the witnesses against him."