Opinion ID: 1209287
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: relief for appellant

Text: When the element of premeditation has not been proven by the State beyond a reasonable doubt, reversal of the conviction is not always required. We can sometimes reduce the conviction to second degree murder or manslaughter without a new trial. Goodman v. State, Wyo., 573 P.2d 400, 414 (1977). Such a remedy would not be proper in this case, however, because it is likely that the jury relied upon the doctrine of transferred intent to conclude that the shooting was intentional. Transfer of the intent element was no more justified in this case than was transfer of the premeditation element. It is impossible to tell if the jury reached its general verdict by transferring the intent to shoot Carter to intent to shoot Bernatchy. If the transferred intent instruction had not been given to the jury, I would propose that we reduce appellant's conviction to manslaughter. Having given this instruction, however, I am convinced that appellant's conviction should be reversed and his case remanded for a new trial so the jury can, under proper instructions of law, pass upon the premeditation and intent issues without the smokescreen created by the transferred intent rule.