Opinion ID: 886242
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Did the District Court err when it denied Azure's motion for a modified verdict?

Text: ¶ 47 Azure argues that the District Court erred when it denied his motion for a modified verdict. Azure had asserted that the jury's verdict on deliberate homicide was logically and legally inconsistent with the verdict of mitigated attempted deliberate homicide. Azure contends that once the jury concluded Azure was acting under extreme stress at the time he shot at the dining room window, it had to likewise conclude that Azure was also under extreme stress when he shot at the kitchen window, seconds earlier, killing John. The State argues that this Court should not second-guess a jury verdict, and that inconsistencies are allowed in verdicts. ¶ 48 We have held that where separate acts are charged in an information, and each act is a separate offense, an acquittal or conviction of one or more counts does not affect the other counts. State v. Sanderson (1985), 214 Mont. 437, 451, 692 P.2d 479, 487 (citation omitted). In cases where the sufficiency of the evidence is considered, we will not substitute our judgment for that of the jury, which is able to view firsthand the evidence presented, observe the demeanor of the witnesses, and weigh the credibility of each party. Sanderson, 214 Mont. at 452, 692 P.2d at 487. See also, State v. Larson (Minn.1979), 281 N.W.2d 481, 487 (It is within the jury's prerogative to find a defendant guilty of four homicides, but find that he lost his ability to distinguish right from wrong when he fatally shot the last victim). ¶ 49 Moreover, we will not attempt to ascertain what the jury actually determined. See Dallas v. Arave (9th Cir. 1993), 984 F.2d 292, 295. If the circumstances reasonably justify the verdict, this Court must assume the existence of every fact which the jury reasonably could have deduced from all the evidence. State v. Doney (1981), 194 Mont. 22, 33, 636 P.2d 1377, 1384 (citation omitted). Whether Azure acted under extreme emotional distress was a question of fact for the jury. See State v. Sunday (1980), 187 Mont. 292, 301, 609 P.2d 1188, 1194 (citation omitted). ¶ 50 A rational trier of fact could have found Azure was not under extreme emotional stress when he shot John Cavill, particularly if the jury concluded Azure could in fact see John in the window when he fired the shot. The evidence presented to the jury concerning Azure's emotional stressors predominantly revolved around his relationship with Lois-her leaving him, Azure not being able to talk to her, and the signing of the divorce papers. The jury could have reasonably concluded there was mitigation in Azure's acts toward Lois, but not in his actions toward John. After all, the jury heard evidence that Azure could in fact see John in the window prior to firing the first shot. They also heard Azure testify that the statements he made in the holding cell and his heart attack were the result of being told he was charged with first degree homicide; however, they also heard testimony that Azure was not informed of John's death at the time. The jury also viewed the tape of Azure in the holding cell, where he does not mention shooting any windows at all, and there is no discussion by either Azure or any officer as to why Azure was arrested. Further, Azure's statements on the holding cell tape oscillated between saying he did not know what happened to statements such as, I can't believe I'd do something like this; and I'm right in the middle of getting a divorce, this is what this is all about. ¶ 51 For a charge of deliberate homicide to be reduced to mitigated deliberate homicide, the jury must be convinced by a preponderance of the evidence that such reduction is warranted, in accordance with § 45-5-103, MCA. State v. Byers (1993), 261 Mont. 17, 36, 861 P.2d 860, 872, overruled on other grounds by State v. Egelhoff (1995), 272 Mont. 114, 900 P.2d 260 and State v. Rothacher (1995), 272 Mont. 303, 901 P.2d 82. Section 45-5-103, MCA, provides in part: (1) A person commits the offense of mitigated deliberate homicide when the person purposely or knowingly causes the death of another human being but does so under the influence of extreme mental or emotional stress for which there is a reasonable explanation or excuse. The reasonableness of the explanation or excuse must be determined from the viewpoint of a reasonable person in the actor's situation. [Emphasis added.] ¶ 52 The jury could have logically concluded there was no reasonable explanation or excuse for Azure to shoot at John, while also concluding there was a reasonable explanation for Azure's actions towards Lois. Thus, we conclude the jury verdicts are not legally or logically inconsistent. Therefore, the District Court did not err when it denied Azure's motion for a modified verdict. ¶ 53 Accordingly, we affirm. We Concur: KARLA M. GRAY, C.J., and TERRY N. TRIEWEILER, JAMES C. NELSON and JIM REGNIER, JJ.