Opinion ID: 501759
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The July 10th Hearing

Text: 87 The court set July 10, 1978 as the date for Coleman's sentencing. On that date, at the beginning of the hearing, the court handed counsel for Coleman and the State an unsigned copy of its Findings. Coleman's attorney did not raise an objection to this procedure. After resolving a preliminary matter, the court stated: 88 Well, I want you to know that I have considered all of--everything that you have submitted and have given it thought, and that this isn't just a matter that the Court takes lightly.... The court has set this time for sentencing of the defendant. Since the sentencing hearing, the Court has received copies of briefs and has considered the motion of the defendant to quash and having studied and considered the matter, has prepared its findings as required by law. Before pronouncing sentencing, [sic] does counsel have anything to say to the Court? 89 Defense counsel then read into the record a statement he had prepared on Coleman's behalf. He asked the court to consider that Coleman had never been in any trouble before, that the crimes of which he had been convicted were inconsistent with his whole history as shown by the records in this case, and that reports from people who had known Coleman in Great Falls, Montana where he had worked were favorable. The State responded, arguing among other things, that Coleman had initiated the attempts to kill Harstad, that Harstad had been killed to destroy the evidence of her kidnapping and sexual assault, that according to the pre-sentence report Coleman had feigned homosexuality to convince the court he did not rape the victim, and that Coleman's guilt had been determined beyond a reasonable doubt by the jury. The court then stated: 90 THE COURT: In pronouncing sentence I do want the parties to know that this is a decision that is extremely agonizing for the Court to make. I have not looked at the points that have been raised lightly, but many of the arguments raised by the defense, of course have been considered heretofore, and the jury have found from the factual standpoint that the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and I do not disagree with that conclusion of the jury. The one mitigating circumstance is that the defendant has not prior to this time been convicted of any felony, but in view of the enormity of the crime committed, and the Court's feeling that this one circumstance does not overcome the aggravated circumstances, I have made findings to this effect, written findings as required by law. Also I have made conclusions and judgment which have been furnished to the defendant and the State at this time, and I will only at this time read the Court's conclusions and judgment. 91 The court then read its conclusions and judgment by which Coleman was sentenced to death.