State v. Fish

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