State v. Howard

No. 80-424
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONWTANA

1981

STATE OF MONTANA,
Plaintiff and Respondent,

LESLIE D. HOWARD,

Defendant and Appellant.

Appeal from: District Court of the Thirteenth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Yellowstone
Honorable Charles Luedke, Judge presiding.
Counsel of Record:

For Appellant:
Robert L. Stephens, Jr. argued, Billings, Montana
Stephens and Cole, Billings, Montana
For Respondent:
Hon. Mike Greely, Attorney General, Helena, Montana
Allen Chronister argued, Assistant Attorney General,
Helena, Montana
Harold F. Hanser, County Attorney, Billings, Montana
Corbin Howard argued, Deputy County Attorney, Billings,
Montana

Submitted: September 17, 1981
Decided : m! 2 5 %I
Filed: No\ 2 5 198;

r
Clerk
M r . C h i e f J u s t i c e F r a n k I . H a s w e l l d e l i v e r e d t h e O p i n i o n of t h e
Court.

L e s l i e Howard was c h a r g e d i n Y e l l o w s t o n e County w i t h
a t t e m p t e d h o m i c i d e , a g g r a v a t e d k i d n a p p i n g and s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e
without consent. H e was t r i e d by a j u r y and on A p r i l 11, 1 9 8 0 ,

c o n v i c t e d o f t h e l e s s e r i n c l u d e d o f f e n s e s of a g g r a v a t e d a s s a u l t

and k i d n a p p i n g . H e was s e n t e n c e d t o c o n c u r r e n t t e r m s of t e n and
t w e n t y y e a r s a t Montana S t a t e P r i s o n and was d e s i g n a t e d a
dangerous offender. The d a n g e r o u s d e s i g n a t i o n was removed by t h e
S e n t e n c e Review ~ i v i s i o n . Howard a p p e a l s h i s c o n v i c t i o n . We

affirm.

The t e s t i m o n y o f t h e v i c t i m and d e f e n d a n t was con£ l i c t i n g ,
and t h e v e r d i c t i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e j u r y b e l i e v e d p o r t i o n s of b o t h
stories. The v i c t i m , Debbra A l d r i d g e , t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h e was
w o r k i n g a s a p r o s t i t u t e n e a r t h e W e s t e r n Bar i n B i l l i n g s ,

Montana, o n t h e n i g h t of A u g u s t 3 0 , 1979. She met Howard, t h e y

a g r e e d on h e r s e r v i c e s , and s h e went w i t h him i n h i s c a r .
I n s t e a d o f s t o p p i n g a t A l d r i d g e l s house t o consummate t h e
a g r e e m e n t , Howard d r o v e by it and s t o p p e d a t a v a c a n t l o t .

Howard i n f o r m e d h e r t h e a c t o f i n t e r c o u r s e would t a k e p l a c e
t h e r e , and o v e r h e r p r o t e s t d r a g g e d h e r o u t of t h e c a r . An

a l t e r c a t i o n e n s u e d i n which Howard b e a t h e r , choked h e r , d r a g g e d

h e r a c r o s s t h e l o t and a t t e m p t e d to r i p o f f h e r c l o t h i n g . A t one

p o i n t he was s i t t i n g on t o p o f h e r and p u l l i n g h e r n e c k b a c k w a r d s

w i t h both hands. A l d r i d g e t e s t i f i e d , " I t h o u g h t he was t r y i n g to
b r e a k my b a c k or my n e c k . " H e h i t h e r on t h e s i d e o f t h e head

and s h e l o s t c o n s c i o u s n e s s . When s h e r e g a i n e d c o n s c i o u s n e s s s h e
was i n t h e t r u n k o f Howard's c a r . She had l o s t h e r p u r s e and
shoes in the struggle. The car s t o p p e d a t S o u t h B r i d g e o v e r t h e
Yellowstone River. Howard p u l l e d h e r o u t of t h e t r u n k , t o o k o f f
h e r d r e s s , d r a g g e d h e r u n d e r t h e b r i d g e and r a p e d h e r . She
managed t o g e t away and r a n toward t h e c a r , b u t Howard s t o p p e d

h e r and s t a r t e d s t r a n g l i n g h e r w i t h h e r p a n t y h o s e . Aldridge
f i n a l l y b r o k e f r e e , d o v e i n t o t h e r i v e r , and made h e r way t o a
r o a d w h e r e s h e found a r i d e to t h e h o s p i t a l . She t o l d t h e p o l i c e
a b o u t h e r s h o e s and p u r s e , b u t t h e y were u n a b l e t o f i n d them.
L a t e r , A l d r i d g e and h e r husband found t h e v a c a n t l o t w h e r e h e r

s h o e s and p u r s e were l o c a t e d , and t h e y n o t i f i e d t h e p o l i c e .
L e s l i e Howard t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e p i c k e d up a p r o s t i t u t e ,

D e b b r a A l d r i d g e , n e a r t h e N o r t h e r n Hotel and d r o v e h e r t o h e r

home where t h e y had s e x u a l i n t e r c o u r s e . Howard o f f e r e d to t a k e
h e r downtown so s h e c o u l d r e t u r n t o work. A l d r i d g e t h e n demanded

p a y m e n t b u t Howard r e f u s e d , s a y i n g h e was b r o k e . Aldridge
e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n t h a t h e r pimp would be u p s e t . Aldridge
a t t a c k e d him w h i l e he was d r i v i n g and h e s t o p p e d t h e c a r , w e n t t o

t h e p a s s e n g e r d o o r and opened i t . She g o t o u t and t h e y g o t i n t o

a fight. H e a d m i t s h i t t i n g A l d r i d g e b u t d e n i e s t h a t s h e became

unconscious. Howard t e s t i f i e d t h a t A l d r i d g e had h i s g l a s s e s and
h e w a s a t t e m p t i n g t o g e t them b a c k . H e t o o k o f f h e r d r e s s and

d r o v e away, l e a v i n g h e r i n t h e l o t . H e w e n t b a c k to h e r h o u s e to

s m o o t h t h i n g s o v e r and g e t h i s g l a s s e s and r e t u r n h e r d r e s s .
A l d r i d g e a s k e d him t o t a k e h e r downtown. H e d r o v e h e r downtown

b u t s h e t o l d him t o k e e p d r i v i n g and e v e n t u a l l y t o l d him to p u l l
o v e r a t t h e South Bridge. She g o t o u t o f t h e c a r , r a n down t o
t h e r i v e r , removed h e r d r e s s and w e n t swimming. Howard t o o k h e r

d r e s s b e c a u s e A l d r i d g e s t i l l had h i s g l a s s e s , and h e l e f t h e r
there.
A s e a r c h of Howard's r e s i d e n c e r e v e a l e d w e t , sandy jeans
and s h o e s . The v i c t i m ' s t o r n d r e s s was found i n t h e t r u n k o f t h e
c a r Howard had b e e n d r i v i n g . The p o l i c e f o u n d t h e v i c t i m ' s s h o e s
a n d p u r s e and t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s g l a s s e s i n t h e v a c a n t l o t a f t e r
b e i n g n o t i f i e d by t h e v i c t i m o f t h e l o t ' s correct l o c a t i o n . The
v i c t i m i d e n t i f i e d Howard from a p h o t o l i n e - u p and a l s o i n t h e
courtroom.
Dr. S t e p h e n E l l i o t t was t h e a t t e n d i n g e m e r g e n c y room

p h y s i c i a n who examined t h e v i c t i m o n t h e n i g h t o f t h e i n c i d e n t .
H e t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h e had s t r a n g u l a t i o n m a r k s on h e r n e c k , a
b l u i s h t i n g e t o h e r f a c e and many p e t e c h i a e , which a r e t i n y

p u r p l e s p o t s c a u s e d b y h e m o r r h a g i n g o f c a p i l l a r i e s a s a r e s u l t of
strangulation. She a l s o had b r u i s e s and a n i n j u r y to t h e e y e .

S e v e r a l p h o t o g r a p h s were i n t r o d u c e d i n t o e v i d e n c e which g r a p h i -

c a l l y portrayed her condition. Dr. E l l i o t t t e s t i f i e d he was

" s u r p r i s e d t o s e e a p e r s o n w i t h t h i s much i n j u r y s t i l l a l i v e ,"
" [ s l h e l o o k e d l i k e s h e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n d e a d , " and " i f you g e t
s t r a n g l e d b a d l y you g e t [ p e t e c h i a e ] l i k e t h a t . " I n a d d i t i o n , he
gave the following testimony:

"Q. Dr. E l l i o t t , b a s e d upon y o u r e x a m i n a t i o n of
the injuries that you saw on D e b b i e on t h e e a r l y
morning of August 3 1 , d o you h a v e a n o p i n i o n a s
t o what t h e f o r c e t h a t was a p p l i e d t o h e r w a s
d e s i g n e d to do?

"MR. STEPHENS: W e l l , I o b j e c t , Your Honor.
T h a t i n v a d e s t h e p r o v i n c e of t h e j u r y .
"THE COURT: Overruled. You may a n s w e r .

"A. Well, y e a h , I h a v e a n o p i n i o n . I think
that somebody t r i e d t o m u r d e r h e r . You know, I
just c a n 1 t b e l i e v e t h a t you c a n s u s t a i n t h a t
much trauma w i t h any o t h e r i n t e n t . "
On a p p e a l Howard r a i s e s t h r e e i s s u e s : 1) W h e t h e r t h e

D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n a l l o w i n g t h e d o c t o r to t e s t i f y a s to t h e

i n t e n t of t h e v i c t i m ' s a s s a i l a n t ; 2) whether t h e ~ i s t r i c t ourt
C
e r r e d i n f a i l i n g t o i n s t r u c t t h e j u r y on t h e n e c e s s i t y of f i n d i n g

a s p e c i f i c i n t e n t ; and 3 ) w h e t h e r t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n
r e f u s i n g t h e d e f e n d a n t 1 s p r o p o s e d i n s t r u c t i o n s on a r t i f i c i a l l y
p l a c e d o r tampered e v i d e n c e .
The o b j e c t i o n made by d e f e n s e c o u n s e l to t h e q u e s t i o n

c a l l i n g f o r t h e d o c t o r l s o p i n i o n on i n t e n t was t h a t it " i n v a d e s

t h e province of the jury." T h i s o b j e c t i o n is n o t a d e q u a t e t o
j u s t i f y e x c l u s i o n of t h e testimony. ~t is m e r e l y a n o t h e r way

o f s a y i n g t h a t t h e t e s t i m o n y e m b r a c e s a n u l t i m a t e i s s u e t o be
d e c i d e d by t h e j u r y . R u l e 7 0 4 of t h e Montana R u l e s of E v i d e n c e
provides :

" T e s t i m o n y i n t h e form o f a n o p i n i o n o r
i n f e r e n c e o t h e r w i s e a d m i s s i b l e is n o t o b j e c -
t i o n a b l e b e c a u s e it e m b r a c e s a n u l t i m a t e i s s u e
t o be d e c i d e d b y t h e t r i e r o f f a c t . "
This r u l e r e f l e c t s long-established law i n Montana. S t a t e v.

P e t k o ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 1 7 7 Mont. 2 2 9 , 5 8 1 P.2d 425; McGuire v. N e l s o n

( 1 9 7 5 ) , 1 6 7 Mont. 1 8 8 , 536 P.2d 7 6 8 ; Rude v. Neal ( 1 9 7 4 ) , 1 6 5

Mont. 5 2 0 , 530 P.2d 428; S t a t e v. C a m p b e l l ( 1 9 6 5 ) , 1 4 6 Mont. 2 5 1 ,
4 0 5 P.2d 9 7 8 ; S t a t e v. Shannon ( 1 9 3 3 ) , 9 5 Mont. 2 8 0 , 26 P.2d 360;
v . J o h n R. D a i l y Co. ( 1 9 1 9 ) , 56 Mont. 6 3 , 1 8 1 P. 326.

T h u s , t h e f a c t t h a t t h e d o c t o r ' s o p i n i o n o n i n t e n t w e n t to a n
u l t i m a t e i s s u e i s no b a s i s f o r i t s e x c l u s i o n .
Under R u l e 704 t h e t e s t i m o n y m u s t be " o t h e r w i s e a d m i s s -

ible ." The a d m i s s i b i l i t y o f e x p e r t t e s t i m o n y is g o v e r n e d b y
R u l e 7 0 2 , Montana R u l e s o f E v i d e n c e :
" I f s c i e n t i f i c , t e c h n i c a l , or o t h e r s p e c i a l i z e d
knowledge w i l l assist t h e trier of f a c t to
u n d e r s t a n d t h e e v i d e n c e or t o d e t e r m i n e a f a c t
i n i s s u e , a w i t n e s s q u a l i f i e d as a n e x p e r t by
k n o w l e d g e , s k i l l , e x p e r i e n c e , t r a i n i n g , o r edu-
c a t i o n may t e s t i f y t h e r e t o i n t h e form o f a n
opinion o r otherwise ."
According to t h i s r u l e , D r . E l l i o t t was c l e a r l y q u a l i f i e d t o

t e s t i f y as t o t h e n a t u r e and e x t e n t o f t h e v i c t i m ' s i n j u r i e s .
W h e t h e r he c o u l d t h e n e x t r a p o l a t e from t h i s d a t a and g i v e a n o p i -

n i o n is d e t e r m i n e d b y w h e t h e r t h e o p i n i o n would a s s i s t t h e t r i e r

of fact. S t a t e d a n o t h e r way, t h e t e s t is:
" ... w h e t h e r t h e s u b j e c t is o n e o f s u c h com-
mon k n o w l e d g e t h a t men o f o r d i n a r y e d u c a t i o n
c o u l d r e a c h a c o n c l u s i o n as i n t e l l i g e n t l y a s t h e
w i t n e s s , o r w h e t h e r t h e m a t t e r is s u f f i c i e n t l y
beyond common e x p e r i e n c e t h a t t h e o p i n i o n o f a n
e x p e r t would a s s i s t t h e t r i e r o f f a c t ." State
v . Campbell ( 1 9 6 5 ) r 1 4 6 Mont. 2 5 1 , 2 5 8 , 4 0 5 P.2d
9 7 8 , 983.
Dr. E l l i o t t i n f e r r e d from t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i n j u r i e s t h a t t h e
p e r s o n who i n £ l i c t e d them d i d so w i t h a n i n t e n t to m u r d e r . We

f i n d t h a t u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h i s c a s e , t h e j u r y was as
q u a l i f i e d as t h e d o c t o r t o d r a w a n i n f e r e n c e from t h e c i r c u m s t a n -
t i a l e v i d e n c e as t o i n t e n t , and t h e r e f o r e t h e d o c t o r ' s o p i n i o n o n
i n t e n t w a s i n a d m i s s i b l e u n d e r R u l e 7 0 2 , Montana R u l e s o f
Evidence.

W e f u r t h e r f i n d t h a t , f o r a number o f r e a s o n s , t h e error
was h a r m l e s s u n d e r b o t h t h e Montana and t h e f e d e r a l c o n s t i t u -
t i o n a l tests. Montana s t a t u t e s p r o v i d e t h a t no c a u s e o f a c t i o n
s h a l l be r e v e r s e d b y r e a s o n o f a n y error c o m m i t t e d b y t h e t r i a l
c o u r t u n l e s s t h e r e c o r d shows t h a t t h e error was p r e j u d i c i a l ,

s e c t i o n 46-20-701, MCA; and t h a t a n y e r r o r which d o e s n o t a f f e c t

s u b s t a n t i a l r i g h t s s h a l l be d i s r e g a r d e d , s e c t i o n 46-20-702, MCA.

The f e d e r a l c o n s t i t u t i o n a l t e s t f o r h a r m l e s s e r r o r is w h e t h e r
t h e r e is a r e a s o n a b l e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e c o m p l a i n e d o f

m i g h t h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e c o n v i c t i o n , Fahy v . C o n n e c t i c u t

( 1 9 6 3 ) , 3 7 5 U.S. 8 5 , 84 S.Ct. 2 2 9 , 11 L.Ed.2d 171; or whether t h e
r e v i e w i n g c o u r t c a n d e c l a r e a b e l i e f t h a t t h e e r r o r was h a r m l e s s

beyond a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t . Chapman v . C a l i f o r n i a ( 1 9 6 7 ) , 3 8 6

U.S. 1 8 , 8 7 S e c t . 8 2 4 , 1 7 L.Ed.2d 705.
F i r s t , it is e v i d e n t t h a t t h e j u r y d i d n o t r e l y o n t h e
d o c t o r ' s o p i n i o n b e c a u s e it r e t u r n e d a v e r d i c t o f g u i l t y o f
a g g r a v a t e d a s s a u l t and k i d n a p p i n g r a t h e r t h a n g u i l t y o f a t t e m p t e d

d e l i b e r a t e homicide. The crime o f a t t e m p t e d d e l i b e r a t e h o m i c i d e
r e q u i r e s a n i n t e n t or p u r p o s e t o c a u s e d e a t h ; s e c t i o n 45-5-102,
MCA; w h i l e n e i t h e r a g g r a v a t e d a s s a u l t n o r k i d n a p p i n g r e q u i r e a n

i n t e n t to c a u s e d e a t h . S e c t i o n s 45-5-202 and 45-5-3021 MCA. See
S t a t e v . Gone ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 1 7 9 Mont. 2 7 1 , 5 8 7 P.2d 1291.
S e c o n d , t h e e v i d e n c e is o v e r w h e l m i n g t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t

p u r p o s e f u l l y or k n o w i n g l y i n f l i c t e d b o d i l y i n j u r y o n t h e v i c t i m
w i t h a weapon. Dr. E l l i o t t t e s t i f i e d from h i s e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e
v i c t i m t h a t s h e had b e e n s t r a n g l e d w i t h a n i n s t r u m e n t and t h a t
t h e s t r a n g u l a t i o n had b e e n s e v e r e . Dr. E l l i o t t tes t i £ ied t h a t ,
w h i l e t h e b r u i s e s , a b r a s i o n s and p e t e c h i a e were n o t i n and o f
t h e m s e l v e s " s e r i o u s b o d i l y i n j u r y " a c c o r d i n g to t h e s t a t u t o r y
d e f i n i t i o n , s e c t i o n 45-2-101(53), MCA, t h e y were " b o d i l y i n j u r y "
w i t h i n t h e d e f i n i t i o n g i v e n t o him from s e c t i o n 4 5 - 2 - 1 0 1 ( 5 ) , MCA.

Debbra A l d r i d g e t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t s t r a n g l e d h e r w i t h

h e r p a n t y h o s e and t h a t when s h e was b e i n g s t r a n g l e d s h e t h o u g h t

h e r l i f e was o v e r . A p a i r o f p a n t y h o s e may be c o n s i d e r e d a

"weapon" u n d e r t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f s e c t i o n 4 5 - 2 - 1 0 1 ( 6 5 ) , MCA, which
i n c l u d e s "any i n s t r u m e n t , a r t i c l e , or s u b s t a n c e which, r e g a r d l e s s

o f i t s p r i m a r y f u n c t i o n , is r e a d i l y c a p a b l e o f b e i n g used t o p r o -
d u c e d e a t h or s e r i o u s b o d i l y i n j u r y . " A j u r y could have i n f e r r e d

from a l l t h e evidence t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t acted purposely, i.e.
w i t h t h e c o n s c i o u s o b j e c t to engage i n t h e conduct; or knowingly,

i.e. w i t h awareness of h i s c o n d u c t .
F i n a l l y , we n o t e t h a t t h e i n t e n t of t h e a s s a i l a n t w a s n o t

a major i s s u e i n t h e t r i a l . The major i s s u e was t h e i d e n t i t y o f
the perpetrator. The d e f e n s e t h e o r y w a s t h a t t h e v i c t i m ' s pimp
was t h e a s s a i l a n t .
W e h o l d t h e a d m i s s i o n o f t h e d o c t o r ' s o p i n i o n on i n t e n t

was n o t p r e j u d i c i a l t o t h e d e f e n d a n t , d i d n o t a f f e c t t h e s u b s t a n -
t i a l r i g h t s o f t h e d e f e n d a n t , and was h a r m l e s s beyond a r e a s o -

nable doubt.
Defendant n e x t a r g u e s t h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n r e f u s i n g to
i n s t r u c t t h e j u r y on t h e n e c e s s i t y o f f i n d i n g s p e c i f i c i n t e n t as

a n e l e m e n t o f t h e crime. A t common law, c e r t a i n crimes were

r e f e r r e d t o as " s p e c i f i c i n t e n t c r i m e s " b e c a u s e t h e y r e q u i r e d , i n
a d d i t i o n t o a g e n e r a l c r i m i n a l i n t e n t , a more p a r t i c u l a r or spe-
ci f ic mental state. S e e P e r k i n s o n C r i m i n a l Law ( 2d. Ed. 1 9 69 ) ,
C h a p t e r 7, S e c t i o n 3 . F o r e x a m p l e , common l a w b u r g l a r y r e q u i r e d
a n i n t e n t i o n a l or knowing b r e a k i n g and e n t e r i n g i n t o t h e d w e l l i n g

o f a n o t h e r with t h e s p e c i f i c purpose of committing a f e l o n y

therein. The " g e n e r a l i n t e n t " o f t h e d e f e n d a n t c o u l d be i n f e r r e d
from t h e doing of t h e a c t , while t h e " s p e c i f i c i n t e n t " w a s

r e q u i r e d t o be p r o v e d b y t h e p r o s e c u t i o n . I t is t h i s d i s t i n c t i o n

b e t w e e n g e n e r a l and s p e c i f i c i n t e n t which t h e d e f e n d a n t u r g e s
upon t h i s C o u r t , a r g u i n g t h a t " p u r p o s e l y " and " k n o w i n g l y " r e f e r

t o g e n e r a l i n t e n t and t h a t t h e S t a t e f a i l e d t o p r o v e t h e s p e c i f i c
i n t e n t w h i c h is a n e l e m e n t o f a g g r a v a t e d a s s a u l t .
The f a t a l f l a w i n d e f e n d a n t ' s a r g u m e n t is t h a t a g g r a v a t e d

a s s a u l t is n o t a s p e c i f i c i n t e n t crime. A g g r a v a t e d a s s a u l t i s de-
f i n e d by s e c t i o n 4 5 - 5 - 2 0 2 ( 1 ) , MCA, as follows:
 "A p e r s o n c o m m i t s t h e o f f e n s e o f a g g r a v a t e d
a s s a u l t i f he p u r p o s e l y or k n o w i n g l y c a u s e s :

" a ) s e r i o u s b o d i l y i n j u r y to a n o t h e r ; [or]

" b ) b o d i l y i n j u r y t o a n o t h e r w i t h a weapon . . ."
The l e g i s l a t u r e d i d n o t i n t e n d t o r e q u i r e a n y o t h e r m e n t a l s t a t e
i n a d d i t i o n to " p u r p o s e l y o r knowingly." I f it had so i n t e n d e d , t h e

l e g i s l a t u r e would h a v e d e f i n e d t h e s p e c i f i c i n t e n t i n l a n g u a g e

s i m i l a r t o t h a t used e l s e w h e r e i n t h e c r i m i n a l c o d e . For
e x a m p l e , see t h e d e f i n i t i o n s o f s o l i c i t a t i o n , s e c t i o n 45-4-101,
MCA ( " w i t h t h e p u r p o s e t h a t a n o f f e n s e be c o m m i t t e d " ) ; b u r g l a r y ,

s e c t i o n 45-6-204, MCA ( " w i t h t h e p u r p o s e t o c o m m i t a n o f f e n s e

t h e r e i n " ) ; and f o r g e r y , s e c t i o n 45-6-325, MCA ( " w i t h p u r p o s e to

d e f r a u d " ) . The h i e r a r c h y o f m e n t a l s t a t e s used b y t h e Montana
C r i m i n a l Code is p a t t e r n e d a f t e r t h e Model P e n a l C o d e , and as w e
s t a t e d i n S t a t e v. S h a r b o n o ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 1 7 5 Mont. 3 7 3 , 5 6 3 P.2d 6 1 ;
a n d i n S t a t e v. K l e i n ( 1 9 7 6 ) , 1 6 9 Mont. 3 5 0 , 5 4 7 P.2d 75, w a s
d e s i g n e d t o a l l e v i a t e t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s c a u s e d b y t h e u s e of

n u m e r o u s terms d e s c r i b i n g c u l p a b i l i t y which were l a r g e l y
undefined. The Model P e n a l Code d r a f t e r s abandoned t h e d i s t i n c -

t i o n o f " g e n e r a l " and " s p e c i f i c " i n t e n t , commenting:
.c e.p . o fe
I'

con t
w c a n see no v i r t u e i n p r e s e r v i n g t h e
' g e n e r a l i n t e n t ' which h a s been an
a b i d i n g s o u r c e o f a m b i g u i t y and o f c o n f u s i o n i n
t h e p e n a l law." Model P e n a l Code 2.02.
Comment ( T e n t a t i v e D r a f t No. 4 , 1 9 5 5 , p. 1 2 8 ) .
The c o u r t ' s i n s t r u c t i o n s on " p u r p o s e l y and k n o w i n g l y v 1 were s u f -

f i c i e n t i n s t r u c t i o n s on t h e i n t e n t n e c e s s a r y t o c o n v i c t on t h e
crimes o f a g g r a v a t e d a s s a u l t and k i d n a p p i n g .
D e f e n d a n t ' s f i n a l a r g u m e n t is t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t
e r r e d i n r e f u s i n g h i s p r o p o s e d i n s t r u c t i o n s r e l a t i n g to t h e d e f i-
n i t i o n o f t a m p e r e d e v i d e n c e and t h e u s e by t h e S t a t e o f a r t i f i -
c i a l l y placed evidence. The d e f e n s e t h e o r y a t t r i a l w a s t h a t t h e
v i c t i m ' s pimp was h e r a s s a i l a n t and t h a t t h e y l a t e r p l a n t e d e v i -
d e n c e i n a n a t t e m p t t o w r o n g l y i m p l i c a t e Howard.

I t is t r u e t h a t t h e p o l i c e c o u l d n o t f i n d t h e s h o e s , p u r s e
and g l a s s e s a t f i r s t . From h e r h o s p i t a l bed t h e v i c t i m had g i v e n

them a n i n c o r r e c t l o c a t i o n o f t h e v a c a n t l o t . L a t e r s h e found

t h e l o t a b l o c k away, found t h e e v i d e n c e t h e r e i n and n o t i f i e d t h e

police. A t best, defense counsel created a suspicion t h a t the

e v i d e n c e might have been p l a n t e d . Debbra A l d r i d g e t e s t i f i e d t h a t

s h e had n o t p l a n t e d t h e e v i d e n c e . T h e r e was i n s u f f i c i e n t e v i -

d e n c e t o s u p p o r t a l o g i c a l i n f e r e n c e t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e was

p l a n t e d , and t h e r e f o r e i n s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e to s u p p o r t a n

i n s t r u c t i o n on t h a t t h e o r y . S t a t e v. K i r k a l d i e ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 1 7 9 Mont.

2 8 3 , 587 P.2d 1 2 9 8 ; S t a t e v. M i n e r ( 1 9 7 6 ) r 1 6 9 Mont. 2 6 0 , 5 4 6

P.2d 252.

Affirmed .

Chief J u s t i c e

W e concur: