No. 79-7
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
1980
THE STATE OF MONTANA,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
DWAYNE FISH and JOHN
ALDIN HUBBARD,
Defendants and Appellants.
Appeal from: District Court of the Eighth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Cascade.
Honorable H. William Coder, Judge presiding.
Counsel of Record:
For Appellants:
Morrison, Ettien and Barron, Havre, Montana
Robert Morrison argued, Havre, Montana
Lawrence A. Anderson argued, Public Defender,
Great Falls, Montana
For Respondent:
Hon. Mike Greely, Attorney General, Helena, Montana
Mary B. Troland argued, Assistant Attorney General,
Helena, Montana
J. Fred Bourdeau County Attorney, Great Falls, Montana
Tom McKittrick argued, Deputy County Attorney, Great
Falls, Montana
Submitted: November 11, 1980
Decided: EEC 3 0 19@
Filed:
Tc
E 4 ":q$'
.<
Mr. J u s t i c e Gene B. Daly d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion of t h e C o u r t .
his i s a n a p p e a l from a c o n v i c t i o n and judgment
a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d a n t Dwayne M o r r i s F i s h o f a t t e m p t e d b u r -
g l a r y and t h e d e f e n d a n t John A l d i n Hubbard o f m i t i g a t e d
d e l i b e r a t e homicide. The c o n v i c t i o n s f o l l o w e d a j u r y t r i a l
i n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t of t h e E i g h t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t ,
County of Cascade.
A t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 10:OO p.m. on t h e e v e n i n g J u n e 27,
1978, Dwayne F i s h and Mary S k e l t o n went t o W a l l y ' s B a r i n
Black E a g l e , Montana, j u s t n o r t h and a c r o s s t h e M i s s o u r i
R i v e r from G r e a t F a l l s , Montana, where George M i l l e r w a s
bartending. While i n t h e b a r F i s h t a l k e d w i t h Miller con-
c e r n i n g a p a s t - d u e money d e b t M i l l e r owed him. A f t e r having
a d r i n k , F i s h and S k e l t o n began t o l e a v e . A t t h a t time,
some p r o f a n i t i e s were exchanged between M i l l e r and M s .
Skelton. A s a r e s u l t o f t h e exchange, a f i g h t ensued be-
tween F i s h and Miller w i t h M i l l e r seemingly g e t t i n g t h e
b e t t e r of i t . A f t e r a b r i e f t i m e , a p a t r o n of t h e b a r
grabbed F i s h and p u l l e d him away from M i l l e r . The p a t r o n
t e s t i f i e d t h a t , a s h e s e p a r a t e d t h e two men, F i s h t o l d
M i l l e r t h a t he was g o i n g t o k i l l him. Fish l e f t the bar
with Skelton.
A f t e r l e a v i n g W a l l y ' s Bar F i s h took M s . S k e l t o n home
and mentioned t h a t h e was g o i n g back t o t h e b a r t o c o n t i n u e
h i s f i g h t with M i l l e r . Skelton suggested t h a t she should
c a l l h e r b r o t h e r , John Hubbard, f o r h e l p , b u t F i s h r e j e c t e d
t h e s u g g e s t i o n and t o l d h e r t o s t a y home.
S k e l t o n d i d c a l l h e r b r o t h e r , John Hubbard, and r e l a t e d
what had happened between F i s h and M i l l e r . Hubbard a g r e e d
t o h e l p and s u b s e q u e n t l y m e t h i s s i s t e r a t t h e ~ i v e r v i e w
Lounge i n G r e a t F a l l s .
I n t h e meantime, F i s h r e t u r n e d t o W a l l y ' s B a r . Fish
p a r k e d h i s car n e a r b y and was a p p r o a c h i n g t h e b a r when t h e
owner c o n f r o n t e d him. F i s h r e q u e s t e d t h a t t h e owner g e t
~ i l l e r o come o u t , b u t M i l l e r d e c l i n e d and F i s h l e f t .
t
S k e l t o n and Hubbard, a f t e r m e e t i n g , l e f t f o r W a l l y f s
Bar t o f i n d F i s h . Upon a r r i v i n g a t W a l l y ' s , t h e y were
i n f o r m e d by t h e owner t h a t F i s h had come back b u t had l e f t
again. S k e l t o n and Hubbard t h e n went t o t h e Grey Horse B a r
and S a l o o n i n B l a c k E a g l e , where t h e y found F i s h .
Hubbard a d v i s e d F i s h t h a t it would n o t b e w i s e t o
r e t u r n t o W a l l y ' s Bar t o f i g h t Miller b e c a u s e t h e b a r w a s
f u l l of Miller's f r i e n d s . Fish stated t h a t the f i g h t was
between him and Miller and f o r Hubbard t o s t a y o u t o f i t . A
p a t r o n o f t h e b a r t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e h e a r d F i s h and Hubbard
s a y t h e y w e r e g o i n g t o g e t Miller.
F e a r i n g t h a t F i s h would b e i n f o r q u i t e a b e a t i n g i f h e
r e t u r n e d t o W a l l y ' s Bar S k e l t o n and Hubbard l e f t t o f i n d
some f r i e n d s t o e v e n up t h e odds. S k e l t o n and Hubbard went
t o t h e L i t t l e Chicago B a r , i n Black E a g l e , where t h e y found
D a l e Lodge, a c l o s e f r i e n d o f John Hubbard.
S k e l t o n , Lodge and Hubbard went back t o t h e Grey Horse
where t h e y found F i s h s i t t i n g a t t h e b a r . S k e l t o n , Lodge
and Hubbard began t o p l a y p o o l w h i l e F i s h c o n t i n u e d t o s i t
a t the bar. A t closing t i m e , S k e l t o n and F i s h l e f t t h e Grey
Horse and headed t o w a r d s W a l l y ' s Bar i n F i s h ' s a u t o m o b i l e .
u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e r e would be a f i g h t between F i s h and
M i l l e r a t Wally's, Hubbard and Lodge f o l l o w e d .
Upon a r r i v a l a t W a l l y ' s B a r , Hubbard p a r k e d h i s t r u c k
a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t from t h e b a r . While Hubbard w a s p a r k e d ,
O f f i c e r Dick Duncan of t h e Cascade County s h e r i f f ' s o f f i c e ,
a p p r o a c h e d Hubbard's t r u c k . Deputy Duncan a s k e d ~ u b b a r dt o
i d e n t i f y h i m s e l f and a d v i s e d Hubbard t h a t t h e r e was g o i n g t o
be no t r o u b l e .
A s Hubbard and Lodge w e r e l e a v i n g t h e a r e a o f W a l l y ' s
Bar, a s r e q u e s t e d by Deputy Duncan, S k e l t o n approached
Hubbard's t r u c k and a s k e d Hubbard t o meet h e r and F i s h a t
F i s c h e r ' s T r a i l e r P a r k , where s h e e x p e c t e d F i s h and M i l l e r
t o fight. M i l l e r was a r e s i d e n t of t h e t r a i l e r p a r k .
Skelton drove F i s h ' s automobile t o F i s c h e r ' s T r a i l e r
P a r k b u t d i s c o v e r e d t h a t M i l l e r had n o t y e t a r r i v e d .
S k e l t o n and F i s h parked t h e i r c a r a d j a c e n t t o F i s c h e r ' s
T r a i l e r Park. Hubbard and Lodge a r r i v e d and parked n e x t t o
S k e l t o n and F i s h .
A f t e r twenty t o f o r t y m i n u t e s of w a i t i n g a t t h e t r a i l e r
p a r k , Hubbard d e c i d e d t o go home f o r t h e n i g h t . J u s t a s he
was g e t t i n g r e a d y t o l e a v e , however, a car which was be-
l i e v e d t o be M i l l e r ' s d r o v e p a s t . F i s h and S k e l t o n i n one
c a r , and Hubbard and Lodge i n t h e o t h e r c a r , proceeded t o
follow.
The c a r s p o t t e d by t h e group a c t u a l l y c o n t a i n e d S a l l y
McCurdy, M i l l e r ' s f i a n c e e . She w a s b e i n g f o l l o w e d t o
M i l l e r ' s t r a i l e r by a f r i e n d , G a r t h L e n c i . F i s h , Hubbard,
Lodge and S k e l t o n w e r e unaware t h a t Miller and a f r i e n d of
h i s , S t e v e n T r i p l e t t , were a l r e a d y i n s i d e t h e t r a i l e r when
McCurdy a r r i v e d .
Upon a r r i v i n g a t M i l l e r ' s t r a i l e r , S k e l t o n parked t h e
c a r a s h o r t d i s t a n c e away. F i s h g o t o u t of t h e car and
walked t o where L e n c i w a s parked. S a l l y McCurdy was a l r e a d y
i n the t r a i l e r a t t h i s t i m e . Immediately a f t e r h e r a r r i v a l
M i l l e r had come t o t h e t r a i l e r door and s h o u t e d t o h e r t o
come i n s i d e .
Lenci t e s t i f i e d t h a t a f t e r F i s h , Hubbard and Lodge
walked up t o h i s c a r F i s h t o l d him " t h e y w e r e g o i n g t o do it
r i g h t and g e t i t done w i t h . " Lenci t h e n t e s t i f i e d h e l e f t
a s a l l t h r e e men approached M i l l e r ' s t r a i l e r w i t h F i s h i n
the lead. F i s h d e n i e s h a v i n g made any s u c h s t a t e m e n t t o
L e n c i and t e s t i f i e d t h a t Hubbard and Lodge d i d n o t a r r i v e a t
L e n c i ' s c a r u n t i l a f t e r h e had s t a r t e d up t h e p o r c h s t e p s t o
Miller's trailer.
When F i s h a r r i v e d a t M i l l e r ' s f r o n t d o o r he began
knocking. McCurdy, who was i n s i d e t h e t r a i l e r a t t h e t i m e ,
t e s t i f i e d t o s e e i n g Hubbard and Lodge a few f e e t behind
Fish. T r i p l e t t , who was a l s o i n s i d e t h e t r a i l e r , s t a t e d h e
n o t i c e d a n i n d i v i d u a l s t a n d i n g b e s i d e F i s h b u t was u n a b l e t o
i d e n t i f y t h e person. F i s h , Hubbard and S k e l t o n t e s t i f i e d
t h a t Lodge and Hubbard had s t o p p e d j u s t o f f a c o n c r e t e
l a n d i n g i n f r o n t of Miller's t r a i l e r and were n o t on t h e
porch with Fish.
A s F i s h was knocking on t h e d o o r , t h e l i g h t s i n t h e
t r a i l e r went o u t . F i s h s a i d he c o n t i n u e d t o knock and
s h o u t e d t o Miller t o "come o u t and g e t i t o v e r w i t h . " Sally
McCurdy t e s t i f i e d t h a t F i s h t o l d Miller t o come o u t o r h e
would come i n . F i s h knocked on t h e d o o r f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y
two m i n u t e s b u t t e s t i f i e d h e n e v e r a t t e m p t e d t o f o r c e open
t h e d o o r , n o r d i d he e v e r g r a b o r h a n d l e t h e door knob i n a n
a t t e m p t t o open t h e d o o r .
During t h i s p e r i o d o f time T r i p l e t t , M i l l e r and McCurdy
were i n t h e t r a i l e r l i v i n g room. Without s a y i n g a n y t h i n g
M i l l e r went t o h i s bedroom, o b t a i n e d a r i f l e and r e t u r n e d t o
t h e k i t c h e n t o l o a d it. T r i p l e t t t e s t i f i e d t h a t McCurdy t h e n
s t a r t e d y e l l i n g t h a t t h e y were g o i n g t o have a s h o o t - o u t and
t o l d h i m t o g e t i n t h e back bedroom. McCurdy however d o e s
n o t remember making any s u c h s t a t e m e n t . T r i p l e t t immedi-
a t e l y l e f t t h e l i v i n g room and w h i l e on h i s way t o t h e back
door, heard M i l l e r f i r e t h e r i f l e .
A t t h e time t h e s h o t was f i r e d by M i l l e r , Fish testi-
f i e d t h a t he had r e t r e a t e d and was s t a n d i n g a b o u t t e n f e e t
from t h e porch. H e had h e a r d t h e gun b e i n g cocked i n s i d e
t h e t r a i l e r , which f r i g h t e n e d him. A t about the same t i m e
F i s h t e s t i f i e d t h a t Lodge r a n up on t h e p o r c h and bumped
a g a i n s t t h e d o o r w i t h h i s f o o t a s t h e s h o t w a s f i r e d by
Miller. The p r o s e c u t i o n p r e s e n t e d t h e t e s t i m o n y of S k e l t o n
which i n d i c a t e d t h a t Lodge was s t a n d i n g b e s i d e F i s h when
Lodge k i c k e d t h e d o o r two o r t h r e e t i m e s .
The s h o t f i r e d by M i l l e r went t h r o u g h t h e f r o n t window
a d j a c e n t t o t h e t r a i l e r d o o r and s t r u c k Lodge i n t h e t h r o a t .
Lodge's body was l a t e r found l y i n g w i t h h i s f e e t on t h e
t r a i l e r door threshold. The door molding on t h e i n s i d e of
t h e t r a i l e r and t h e d o o r l a t c h were a l s o found r i p p e d from
t h e door casing. Shrapnel ( i . e . , t r a i l e r m e t a l ) from t h e
s h o t by M i l l e r s t r u c k F i s h i n t h e stomach and Hubbard i n t h e
l i p and e y e .
A s t h e s h o t was f i r e d , F i s h and Hubbard r a n from t h e
v i c i n i t y of M i l l e r ' s t r a i l e r . Hubbard r e t r e a t e d t o t h e a r e a
o f a t i n shed a d j a c e n t t o t h e t r a i l e r w h i l e F i s h f l e d around
t h e back s i d e of t h e t r a i l e r and t h e n headed towards h i s
car. A t t h i s p o i n t , Miller - - - - t h e t r a i l e r and
came o u t of
f i r e d -- s h o t s , aiming h i s r i f l e - -e d i r e c t i o n of
two more i n th -
Hubbard. Hubbard t h e n saw M i l l e r r u n around t h e o p p o s i t e
s i d e of t h e t r a i l e r .
Hubbard t h e n r e t u r n e d t o h i s t r u c k and d r o v e down t o
t h e immediate v i c i n i t y of t h e t r a i l e r porch. A s he reached
t h e t r a i l e r , Miller a p p e a r e d and shoved a r i f l e t h r o u g h t h e
window of t h e t r u c k and t h r e a t e n e d Hubbard's l i f e by y e l l i n g
he w a s g o i n g t o "blow h i s f -----g head o f f . " A struggle for
t h e r i f l e ensued, w i t h Hubbard u l t i m a t e l y g a i n i n g p o s s e s s i o n .
A f t e r t a k i n g t h e r i f l e away from M i l l e r , Hubbard went
o v e r t o Lodge's body and o b s e r v e d t h a t h e had been s h o t i n
t h e neck. Hubbard, t h e n s e e i n g M i l l e r moving away, aimed
and f i r e d t h e r i f l e a t him. Hubbard s t a t e d t h a t when h e
f i r e d a t M i l l e r he was aiming a t h i s r i g h t l e g e x p e c t i n g t o
wing him s o a s t o p r e v e n t him from l e a v i n g t o o b t a i n a n o t h e r
weapon.
F i s h , having w i t n e s s e d t h e s t r u g g l e o v e r t h e r i f l e ,
t e s t i f i e d t h a t Hubbard m i s s e d Miller w i t h t h e f i r s t s h o t and
t h e n f i r e d a t him a g a i n , Miller f a l l i n g f a c e down i n t h e
gravel. Hubbard t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e h i t M i l l e r w i t h t h e f i r s t
s h o t and f i r e d a n o t h e r i n t o t h e ground t o clear t h e chamber.
A b u l l e t from t h e r i f l e s t r u c k M i l l e r i n t h e s m a l l of t h e
back a t a b o u t b e l t l e v e l .
McCurdy, who had f l e d t h r o u g h t h e back of t h e t r a i l e r
t o g e t h e l p , r e t u r n e d and went t o t h e s p o t where Miller l a y .
While t h e r e , s h e t e s t i f i e d , s h e h e a r d Hubbard s a y , "He
k i l l e d m f r i e n d s o I k i l l e d him."
y She a l s o t e s t i f i e d t o
h e a r i n g F i s h s a y , "Yes, w e k i l l e d him." A deputy s h e r i f f
who a r r i v e d on t h e s c e n e s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e i n c i d e n t a l s o
t e s t i f i e d t h a t Hubbard t o l d him t h a t h e s h o t M i l l e r b e c a u s e
M i l l e r had s h o t Lodge.
Both Lodge and M i l l e r d i e d a s a r e s u l t of wounds re-
ceived t h a t night.
F i s h and Hubbard were charged j o i n t l y by amended i n -
f o r m a t i o n w i t h d e l i b e r a t e homicide, a t t e m p t e d a g g r a v a t e d
b u r g l a r y and c o n s p i r a c y t o commit a g g r a v a t e d a s s a u l t . he
c o n s p i r a c y c h a r g e was dropped p r i o r t o t r i a l and t h e d e f e n -
d a n t s pleaded n o t g u i l t y t o t h e remaining counts.
Defendants f i l e d a motion t o d i s m i s s t h e amended i n -
f o r m a t i o n which was d e n i e d by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t . F i s h then
f i l e d a motion f o r s e p a r a t e t r i a l which was a l s o d e n i e d .
rial by j u r y commenced on A p r i l 4 , 1979. On A p r i l 20,
1979, t h e j u r y r e t u r n e d a v e r d i c t of g u i l t y a g a i n s t d e f e n -
d a n t Fish f o r attempted burglary. He was a c q u i t t e d of
a t t e m p t e d a g g r a v a t e d b u r g l a r y and d e l i b e r a t e homicide. The
c o d e f e n d a n t , Hubbard, was c o n v i c t e d of m i t i g a t e d d e l i b e r a t e
homicide and a c q u i t t e d of a t t e m p t e d a g g r a v a t e d b u r g l a r y and
attempted burglary.
F i s h was s e n t e n c e d t o c o n f i n e m e n t i n t h e Montana S t a t e
P r i s o n f o r a p e r i o d of s e v e n y e a r s and found t o be a nondan-
gerous offender. Hubbard was s e n t e n c e d t o p r i s o n f o r a
p e r i o d o f twenty y e a r s and a l s o found t o b e a nondangerous
offender.
F i s h and Hubbard b o t h a p p e a l .
Numerous i s s u e s have been r a i s e d by d e f e n d a n t s on
a p p e a l , b u t t h i s C o u r t need o n l y examine t h e f o l l o w i n g :
1. Whether d e f e n d a n t F i s h ' s c o n v i c t i o n f o r a t t e m p t e d
b u r g l a r y i s s u p p o r t e d by s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e ?
2. Whether t h e t r i a l c o u r t p r o p e r l y e x c l u d e d p s y c h i -
a t r i c t e s t i m o n y o f f e r e d by d e f e n d a n t Hubbard?
To s u p p o r t a n a t t e m p t e d b u r g l a r y c h a r g e i t i s e s s e n t i a l
t h a t t h e p r o s e c u t i o n e s t a b l i s h , w i t h s u b s t a n t i a l and c r e d i -
b l e e v i d e n c e , and beyond a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t , t h a t t h e d e f e n -
d a n t attempted t o e n t e r an occupied s t r u c t u r e with t h e
p u r p o s e t o commit a n o f f e n s e t h e r e i n . See s e c t i o n s 45-4-103
and 45-6-204, MCA.
I t i s a well-established p r i n c i p l e t h a t an a t t e m p t must
c o n s i s t of more t h a n m e r e p r e p a r a t i o n and t h a t t h e r e must be
some o v e r t a c t committed i n f u r t h e r a n c e of t h e o f f e n s e
c h a r g e d . S e c t i o n 45-4-103(1), MCA; see a l s o S t a t e v. R i b e r a
(1979) Mont. , 597 P.2d , 36 St.Rep. 1292;
S t a t e v . Rains ( 1 9 1 7 ) , 53 Mont. 424, 164 P. 540.
The o n l y e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l i n d i c a t e s t h a t
F i s h was on t h e f r o n t p o r c h of M i l l e r ' s t r a i l e r knocking o r
pounding on t h e d o o r . F i s h t e s t i f i e d a s he was knocking h e
t o l d M i l l e r t o come o u t and g e t i t o v e r w i t h . There was
t e s t i m o n y of S a l l y McCurdy, who w a s i n s i d e t h e t r a i l e r a t
the t i m e , t h a t F i s h t o l d Miller t o come o u t o r he would come
i n ; however, no e v i d e n c e was e v e r p r e s e n t e d t h a t F i s h a t -
tempted t o f o r c e open t h e d o o r o r t h a t he e v e r grabbed o r
h a n d l e d t h e d o o r knob i n an a t t e m p t t o open t h e d o o r .
Based upon a r e v i e w of a l l of t h e e v i d e n c e , i n a l i g h t
most f a v o r a b l e t o t h e S t a t e , w e a r e c l e a r l y u n a b l e t o f i n d
t h a t F i s h ' s c o n d u c t a t any time c o n s t i t u t e d a n o v e r t a c t
t h a t c o u l d b e c o n s t r u e d a s a n a t t e m p t t o e n t e r Miller's
trailer. Mere knocking o r pounding on a d o o r d o e s n o t r e a c h
f a r enough towards t h e accomplishment of t h e a l l e g e d d e s i r e d
r e s u l t t o g a i n e n t r y i n t o an occupied s t r u c t u r e necessary t o
e s t a b l i s h t h e c r i m e of a t t e m p t e d b u r g l a r y .
The S t a t e a r g u e s t h a t i f t h e a c t i o n s of F i s h do n o t
e s t a b l i s h a t t e m p t e d b u r g l a r y , F i s h i s s t i l l g u i l t y of t h a t
c r i m e on a t h e o r y of a c c o u n t a b i l i t y f o r t h e a c t i o n s of Dale
Lodge. W e a g a i n must d i s a g r e e .
A p e r s o n i s l e g a l l y a c c o u n t a b l e f o r t h e c o n d u c t of
a n o t h e r when :
I' (1) h a v i n g a m e n t a l s t a t e d e s c r i b e d by t h e
s t a t u t e d e f i n i n g t h e o f f e n s e , h e c a u s e s an-
o t h e r t o perform t h e c o n d u c t , r e g a r d l e s s of
t h e l e g a l c a p a c i t y o r m e n t a l s t a t e of an-
o t h e r person;
" ( 3 ) e i t h e r b e f o r e o r d u r i n g t h e commission
of t h e o f f e n s e w i t h t h e p u r p o s e t o promote
o r f a c i l i t a t e s u c h commission, h e s o l i c i t s ,
a i d s , a b e t s , a g r e e s , o r a t t e m p t s t o a i d such
o t h e r p e r s o n i n t h e p l a n n i n g o r commission
of t h e offense." S e c t i o n 45-2-302, MCA.
The e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l upon which t h e S t a t e
b a s i s i t s theory of a c c o u n t a b i l i t y i s testimony t h a t a f t e r
F i s h s t o p p e d knocking on t h e t r a i l e r d o o r , Lodge r a n up n e x t
t o F i s h and may have k i c k e d t h e d o o r between one and t h r e e
t i m e s b e f o r e a s h o t was f i r e d by Miller s t r i k i n g Lodge.
F i s h t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e had r e t r e a t e d from t h e p o r c h a l t o -
g e t h e r when Lodge r a n up t o t h e d o o r , k i c k i n g i t w i t h h i s
foot a s the shot was fired. A d d i t i o n a l e v i d e n c e was p r e -
s e n t e d t h a t t h e molding around t h e t r a i l e r d o o r and t h e d o o r
l a t c h w e r e found t o r n o f f t h e door c a s i n g and t h a t L o d g e ' s
body w a s found w i t h h i s f e e t on t h e d o o r t h r e s h o l d . How-
e v e r , i t s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t no e v i d e n c e w a s e v e r p r e s e n t e d
t h a t t h e d o o r was damaged a s a r e s u l t of any a c t i o n by Lodge
o r F i s h ; i n f a c t , no e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t how t h e damage oc-
c u r r e d was e v e r p r e s e n t e d .
Upon r e v i e w i n g t h i s e v i d e n c e , a g a i n i n a l i g h t most
favorable t o t h e S t a t e , w e a r e unable t o f i n d t h a t t h e
prosecution has e s t a b l i s h e d those elements required t o
s u p p o r t a t h e o r y of l e g a l a c c o u n t a b i l i t y . There i s no
s u b s t a n t i a l c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e t h a t F i s h had any i n t e n t t o
e n t e r M i l l e r ' s t r a i l e r o r t h a t h e s o l i c i t e d o r a i d e d Lodge
when Lodge r a n up t o t h e d o o r and a l l e g e d l y k i c k e d i t .
I n f u r t h e r support of t h e a c c o u n t a b i l i t y theory, t h e
S t a t e draws on t h e t i m e F i s h , Hubbard and Lodge w e r e t o -
g e t h e r e a r l i e r i n t h e e v e n i n g and on i s o l a t e d remarks
o v e r h e a r d from them, a l l e g e d l y of a n e x c e e d i n g l y v i o l e n t
n a t u r e and t h a t a l l t h r e e w e r e a g a i n p r e s e n t a t M i l l e r ' s
t r a i l e r when Lodge approached t h e t r a i l e r d o o r . Yet, the
r e c o r d i s b a r e of any e v i d e n c e of any p r e p a r a t i o n by any of
t h e t h r e e t o c a r r y o u t t h e s e a l l e g e d t h r e a t s ; no one was
armed, n o t even w i t h a s t i c k o r a r o c k . The r e c o r d i s more
c o m p a t i b l e w i t h a n i n t e n t by F i s h t o engage i n a f i s t f i g h t - -
t o which h e a d m i t s . The S t a t e a d m i t s i n t h e r e c o r d t h a t no
weapons were found when t h e v e h i c l e s were s e a r c h e d . Miller
was t h e o n l y p e r s o n armed. W e acknowledge t h a t t h e r e w a s a n
uncommon amount of a c t i v i t y t h a t e v e n i n g t h a t made i t s way
i n t o t h e r e c o r d , b u t we a r e compelled t o r e j e c t t h e c o n c l u -
s i o n r e a c h e d from t h i s by t h e S t a t e .
The j u r y a l s o r e f u s e d t o a c c e p t t h e t h e o r y of a c c o u n t -
a b i l i t y , a s i s e v i d e n c e d by t h e t h e i r i n c o n s i s t e n t v e r d i c t s .
They r e f u s e d t o f i n d Hubbard a c c o u n t a b l e f o r a c t i o n s of F i s h
o r Lodge by f a i l i n g t o f i n d him g u i l t y of a t t e m p t e d bur-
glary. And, t h e y f a i l e d t o f i n d a c c o u n t a b i l i t y a g a i n by n o t
f i n d i n g F i s h g u i l t y o f m i t i g a t e d d e l i b e r a t e homicide.
The d e f i n i t i o n of c r i m i n a l a c c o u n t a b i l i t y c o n t e m p l a t e s
a n a c t i v e r o l e i n f a c i l i t a t i n g t h e commission of a n o f f e n s e .
C o n s e q u e n t l y , more t h a n mere p r e s e n c e a t t h e s c e n e of a
crime i s n e c e s s a r y t o e s t a b l i s h c r i m i n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y .
S t a t e e x r e l . Murphy v . McKinnon ( 1 9 7 6 ) , 1 7 1 Mont. 1 2 0 , 556
P.2d 906.
The second i s s u e on a p p e a l d e a l s w i t h t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s
r e f u s a l t o allow a p s y c h i a t r i s t t o t e s t i f y a s t o defendant
Hubbard's m e n t a l s t a t e a t t h e t i m e M i l l e r was s h o t .
With r e s p e c t t o e i t h e r d e l i b e r a t e homicide o r m i t i g a t e d
d e l i b e r a t e homicide, t h e S t a t e must p r o v e t h a t d e f e n d a n t
" p u r p o s e l y o r knowingly" c a u s e d t h e d e a t h of a n o t h e r human
b e i n g . S e c t i o n s 45-5-102 and 45-5-103, MCA.
" ~ u r p o s e l yo r knowingly" a r e s t a t u t o r y d e s c r i p t i o n s of
v a r i o u s s t a t e s of t h e human mind. See s e c t i o n s 45-2-lOl(52)
and 45-2-101(27), MCA. They a r e p a r t i c u l a r e l e m e n t s i n -
c l u d e d i n t h e d e f i n i t i o n of t h e c r i m i n a l o f f e n s e s a t i s s u e .
N e l e m e n t of a n o f f e n s e c a n be presumed, and, t h u s , t h e
o
r e q u i s i t e s t a t e o f mind must be e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e p r o s e -
c u t i o n and b e l i e v e d by t h e j u r y beyond a r e a s o n a b l e doubt.
See P a t t e r s o n v. New York ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 432 U.S. 197, 97 S.Ct.
2319, 53 L.Ed.2d 281; I n re Winship ( 1 9 7 0 ) , 397 U.S. 358, 90
S.Ct. 1068, 25 L.Ed.2d 368.
The p r o s e c u t i o n must c a r r y t h e burden of p r o v i n g t h e
r e q u i s i t e m e n t a l s t a t e of t h e d e f e n d a n t i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r
offense. T h e r e f o r e , due p r o c e s s demands t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t
be a l l o w e d t o i n t r o d u c e e v i d e n c e t o r e b u t s a i d e v i d e n c e .
Evidence s h o u l d be a d m i s s i b l e t o p r o v e o r d i s p r o v e t h e
e x i s t e n c e o r n o n e x i s t e n c e of a d e f e n d a n t ' s s t a t e o f mind
j u s t as any o t h e r e v i d e n c e i s a d m i s s i b l e t o prove o t h e r
e l e m e n t s of t h e c r i m e charged.
The o f f e r e d p s y c h i a t r i c t e s t i m o n y i n t h i s i n s t a n c e i n -
c l u d e d a c o n c l u s i o n t h a t Hubbard, under t h e s u r r o u n d i n g c i r -
cumstances, more t h a n l i k e l y d i d n o t i n t e n d t o k i l l M i l l e r
when he s h o t b u t o n l y i n t e n d e d t o s t o p and apprehend him.
T h i s t e s t i m o n y g o e s d i r e c t l y t o t h e e l e m e n t s of " p u r p o s e l y
o r knowingly" a n d , t h u s , s h o u l d have been a d m i t t e d .
The S t a t e p o i n t s o u t t h a t d e f e n d a n t f a i l e d t o g i v e
n o t i c e t o t h e p r o s e c u t i o n t h a t he i n t e n d e d t o r e l y on t h e
d e f e n s e of l a c k o f t h e p a r t i c u l a r s t a t e of mind forming a n
e l e m e n t of t h e c r i m e c h a r g e d , a s r e q u i r e d by s e c t i o n 46-15-
301 ( 2 ) (a), MCA.
W e acknowledge d e f e n d a n t ' s f a i l u r e b u t n o t e t h a t s e c -
t i o n 4 6 - 1 5 - 3 0 1 ( 2 ) ( a ) , MCA, w a s amended i n 1979, w i t h t h e
amendment t a k i n g e f f e c t a f t e r d e f e n d a n t ' s t r i a l . Subsequent
t o t h i s amendment, t h e s e c t i o n p r o v i d e d t h a t n o t i c e i s o n l y
r e q u i r e d i f t h e d e f e n d a n t i n t e n d s t o r e l y on t h e d e f e n s e of
mental d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t . See s e c t i o n 95-1803(3) ( a ) , R.C.M.
The t e s t i m o n y i n t h i s i n s t a n c e was n o t o f f e r e d t o
s u p p o r t a n a f f i r m a t i v e d e f e n s e of m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t
b u t t o support a general r e b u t t a l t o an a l l e g a t i o n t h a t
d e f e n d a n t p u r p o s e l y and knowingly c a u s e d t h e d e a t h of an-
other. This being t h e case, n o t i c e i s n o t required.
Respondent f u r t h e r a r g u e s t h a t even i f n o t i c e i s n o t
r e q u i r e d , t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r of t h e t e s t i m o n y i s n o t p r o p e r
f o r o p i n i o n t e s t i m o n y by a n e x p e r t .
Rule 702, Mont.R.Evid., s e t s f o r t h a two-prong t e s t i n
d e t e r m i n i n g t h e p r o p r i e t y of t h e u s e of e x p e r t t e s t i m o n y :
(1) Is t h e s u b j e c t matter s u c h t h a t i t r e q u i r e s e x p e r t
t e s t i m o n y ; and ( 2 ) Is t h e p a r t i c u l a r w i t n e s s q u a l i f i e d a s a n
e x p e r t t o g i v e a n o p i n i o n i n t h e p a r t i c u l a r a r e a of h i s
t e s t i m o n y ? See Commission Comment, Rule 702, M0nt.R.Evi.d.
I n r e g a r d t o t h e s u b j e c t matter of t h e e x p e r t t e s t i -
mony, g e n e r a l g u i d e l i n e s f o r a d m i s s i o n w e r e s e t f o r t h i n
Leybold v . Fox B u t t e T h e a t e r C o r p o r a t i o n ( 1 9 3 6 ) , 1 0 3 Mont.
". . . When ... i t c a n be s a i d a s a m a t t e r
of law t h a t t h e j u r o r s a r e e q u a l l y c a p a b l e of
forming an o p i n i o n o r c a n draw, o r be r e a d i l y
d i r e c t e d how t o draw, a r e a s o n a b l e i n f e r e n c e ,
t h e n t h e m a t t e r i s n o t t h e s u b j e c t of e x p e r t
testimony. [ C i t a t i o n s omitted. 1 I n o t h e r
words, when t h e c o n c l u s i o n s t o b e drawn from
t h e f a c t s s t a t e d a r e w i t h i n t h e r a n g e of o r -
d i n a r y t r a i n i n g , i n t e l l i g e n c e , and common
o b s e r v a t i o n , e x p e r t t e s t i m o n y i s n o t admis-
sible. . ." 62 P.2d a t 226.
See also Lamb v. Page (1969), 153 Mont. 171, 455 P.2d 337;
State v. Campbell (1965), 146 Mont. 251, 405 P.2d 978.
We are unable to find that identification and descrip-
tion of a particular defendant's mental state, at a certain
point in time, as effected by surrounding circumstances,
clearly lies within the comprehension of laymen as based on
common knowledge and expertise. With this being the case as
to the determination of a defendant's state of mind at the
time of alleged criminal conduct, expert testimony is proper.
The subject matter of the testimony being proper for
expert testimony, and there being no dispute as to the
qualifications of the psychiatrist, the offered testimony
was improperly excluded from the jury. Furthermore, such a
failure is prejudicial and, therefore, reversible error. To
improperly exclude evidence and testimony offered by defen-
dant as rebuttal to an essential element of the crime
charged denies defendant a full evidentiary hearing and
deprives him of his right to a fair trial. See Chambers v.
Mississippi (1973), 410 U.S. 284, 93 S.Ct. 1038, 35 L.Ed.2d
297; Jenkins v. McKeithen (1969), 395 U.S. 411, 89 S.Ct.
1843, 23 L.Ed.2d 404, reh. denied, 396 U.S. 869, 90 S.Ct.
35, 24 L.Ed.2d 123.
The fact that we could reach a decision by treatment of
a single issue in defendant Hubbard's appeal has no parti-
cular significance as to the validity of the remainder of
the issues presented to this Court for review by Hubbard.
It is the feeling of this Court that, in the event of an-
other trial, matters that could not or in all probability
would not again occur are better left alone, which serves
the best interests of all concerned.
The c o n v i c t i o n and judgment a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t F i s h i s
r e v e r s e d and t h e c a u s e d i s m i s s e d .
The c o n v i c t i o n and judgment a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t Hubbard
i s r e v e r s e d and t h e c a u s e remanded t o t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t f o r
.I
a new t r i a l .
Justice d
W concur:
e
Chief J u s t i c e