Opinion ID: 1502463
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sufficiency of Evidence of Solicitation

Text: Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting one element of the solicitation conviction. Unquestionably, sufficient evidence exists to support the Superior Court's finding that Constance Doody ostensibly attempted to induce William Fitzherbert to kill her mother by offering him $300. She argues, however, that the evidence was insufficient to support findings that she thereby intended to cause the commission of the murder or that her attempt was made under circumstances which she believed made it probable that the crime would take place. The offer to Fitzherbert was made in the course of conversation at a local bar among the defendant, her husband, and Fitzherbert. Appellant contends that the record reveals only that the offer was casual barroom talk induced by a history of dislike for Norma Bennett and that neither the relationship among the people privy to that conversation nor the context in which the offer was made tended to show that she really meant to cause the commission of the crime or that she believed the circumstances made it probable that the crime would take place. In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support the finding appellant challenges, we must determine whether, on our examination of the evidence relevant to that finding in the light most favorable to the State, the factfinder could have reasonably found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that appellant's offer to Fitzherbert to pay him $300 to kill her mother was made with the intent to cause the commission of the crime and under circumstances which appellant believed made it probable that the crime would take place. See State v. Perfetto, Me., 424 A.2d 1095, 1097 (1981); State v. Lagasse, Me., 410 A.2d 537, 542 (1980). Viewed in a light most favorable to the State, the following evidence supports the trial court's determination of guilt: Fitzherbert and a detective who investigated the crime testified that Constance offered $300 to Fitzherbert if he would kill Norma Bennett, and that although Fitzherbert replied he would not murder Norma himself he could find someone who would. Constance specified that the murder would have to take place within two weeks in order to avert a court action Constance claimed Norma intended to initiate against her. Fitzherbert told Constance that he could find someone because he knew many crazy people. He also told her he had broken many laws himself in the past, a statement from which the court could have inferred that Constance believed Fitzherbert might be willing to accept her offer. Constance assured Fitzherbert that she could pay the $300 because she was expecting a large sum of money from her father's estate. Constance received a check for $1,400 about a week later. Evidence in the record supports an inference that Constance Doody was not intoxicated when she discussed her offer with Fitzherbert. The seriousness with which both Constance and Michael Doody regarded the offer was confirmed by other comments made during the conversation indicating their hatred for Norma and by Michael's observation that if Fitzherbert did not find someone to kill Norma, he, Michael, would have to do it himself. We cannot conclude, given the details of the conversation, including the absence of an explicit refusal on Fitzherbert's part to find someone to do the crime, that the trial court erred in finding that appellant intended to cause the crime to be committed and that the circumstances were such that she believed her offer would probably lead to commission of the crime.