Opinion ID: 885841
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Did the District Court err when it denied Clausell's motion for a directed verdict of acquittal?

Text: ¶ 28 Section 46-16-403, MCA, permits the trial court in a criminal case to direct a verdict of acquittal only where the evidence is insufficient to support a finding or verdict of guilty. The denial of a motion for a directed verdict is within the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Blackcrow, 1999 MT 44, ¶ 18, 293 Mont. 374, ¶ 18, 975 P.2d 1253, ¶ 18. A directed verdict is not appropriate if, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could find the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Blackcrow, ¶ 18. ¶ 29 At the end of the State's case-in-chief, Clausell moved for a directed verdict on the grounds that the State failed to introduce evidence upon which a jury could conclude that Clausell purposely or knowingly caused Trottier's death. The District Court denied the motion. On appeal, Clausell contends the District Court abused its discretion in denying his motion for a directed verdict because gunshot residue tests failed to establish that either Trottier or Clausell was holding the gun when it was discharged and there was no other evidence that Clausell was holding the gun when Trottier was shot. In addition, Clausell contends there was no well-established motive to prove purpose or knowledge, and no evidence of flight. ¶ 30 In response, the State argues there was sufficient circumstantial evidence from which any rational trier of fact could infer that Clausell was holding the gun when Trottier was shot and that Clausell acted purposely or knowingly. The State also points out that neither motive nor flight are elements of deliberate homicide. We agree with the State on all counts. ¶ 31 We have held that circumstantial evidence alone is sufficient to obtain a conviction. State v. Lancione, 1998 MT 84, ¶ 37, 288 Mont. 228, ¶ 37, 956 P.2d 1358, ¶ 37. Moreover, criminal intent, being a state of mind, is rarely susceptible of direct or positive proof and therefore must usually be inferred from the facts testified to by witnesses and the circumstances as developed by the evidence. State v. Longstreth, 1999 MT 204, ¶ 34, 295 Mont. 457, ¶ 34, 984 P.2d 157, ¶ 34 (citations omitted). Thus, the purposely or knowingly mental state required to support a criminal conviction may be inferred from circumstantial evidence such as the acts of the accused and the facts and circumstances surrounding the offense. See § 45-2-103(3), MCA; State v. Sattler, 1998 MT 57, ¶ 57, 288 Mont. 79, ¶ 57, 956 P.2d 54, ¶ 57. Finally, circumstantial evidence need only be of sufficient quality and quantity to legally justify a jury in finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, taking into consideration all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the charged offense collectively. Lancione, ¶ 37. ¶ 32 In Lancione, the defendant was charged with assaulting his business partner after an incident in which Lancione allegedly pushed the victim down a stairwell. At trial, Lancione contended the victim was trying to prevent him from leaving the building and both men tripped and fell down the stairwell together. Lancione, ¶¶ 7-10. Evidence was introduced at trial that Lancione confronted the victim in his office, followed him down the hall as he tried to leave and threatened that he would never make it to the street. Although there was evidence that the victim traveled a further distance down the stairs than was likely to result from a mere misstep, the victim testified he did not remember Lancione pushing him after being knocked unconscious by the fall. Lancione moved for a directed verdict, arguing there was no direct evidence that he assaulted the victim. The district court denied his motion and we affirmed, concluding sufficient circumstantial evidence existed from which the jury could infer Lancione caused the victim to fall down the stairwell. Lancione, ¶¶ 33-39. ¶ 33 In the present case, Clausell's version of the shooting at trial was that Trottier had the gun in her hand and it discharged when he struggled with her while attempting to remove her from his bedroom. However, the jury heard testimony that a gun powder residue test of Trottier's hands could not establish that she was holding the gun when it discharged. The residue test was similarly inconclusive as to Clausell, but he admitted at trial that he washed his hands upon arriving at the hospital. Moreover, Dr. Schultz testified the bullet trajectory was such that Trottier would have to have been holding the gun with her non-dominant hand and at an awkward angle to have inflicted the wound herself. ¶ 34 The jury also heard testimony at trial that Clausell recounted at least eight different versions of the facts that were inconsistent with each other and with the physical evidence. The jury heard testimony that Clausell and Trottier had been involved in a physical altercation at a bar earlier on the evening of the shooting and that Trottier had driven to Clausell's apartment that night and confronted him. Finally, Clausell admitted at trial that he concealed the gun at his apartment before taking Trottier to the hospital. Thus, strong circumstantial evidence was introduced at trial from which the jury could decline to accept Clausell's version of the facts and infer instead that he shot Trottier. ¶ 35 We conclude from this record, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, that sufficient circumstantial evidence existed upon which any rational trier of fact could determine beyond a reasonable doubt that Clausell purposely or knowingly caused Trottier's death. See Blackcrow, ¶ 18. Furthermore, Clausell's assertions to the contrary notwithstanding, neither motive nor flight are elements of the crime of deliberate homicide. See § 45-5-102(1)(a), MCA. We conclude, therefore, that the District Court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Clausell's motion for a directed verdict of acquittal.