Opinion ID: 1974989
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence in Proof of Murder

Text: Defendant Anderson argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove that he intentionally or knowingly killed Lalumiere, and that, at most, the evidence supports a conviction of manslaughter only. This argument is to no avail. The State's evidence showed that the fatal bullet which killed Lalumiere passed through the victim's chest, heart and lung. Anderson himself testified that he knew the gun was loaded, that he intentionally pulled the trigger, and that, after firing once, he pulled back the hammer of the single action pistol in preparation for a second shot. Where the existence of a culpable state of mind such as a conscious object to cause death (intentional conduct) or an awareness that it is practically certain that death will result from the actor's conduct (knowing conduct) is a necessary constituent of the crime of murder, the intent with which the accused committed the acts underlying the criminal accusation must be proved as any other fact beyond a reasonable doubt. Such proof of the accused's intent at the time of the commission of the alleged criminal act may be drawn from the act itself or from the existing circumstances surrounding the incident, as well as from any other evidence having a legitimate tendency to shed light upon the accused's intent or mental state at the time. See State v. Gagne, Me., 362 A.2d 166, 174 (1976); State v. Pinnette, Me., 340 A.2d 17, 21 (1975); State v. Eaton, Me., 309 A.2d 334, 339 (1973). Thus, the defendant's testimony regarding his subjective intent at the time the shooting occurred was admissible evidence, because it could have an important bearing with the jury in revealing the defendant's state of mind. See State v. Clark, Me., 394 A.2d 779, 782 (1978). One's state of mind, since it is the result of a mental process, may be established by direct proof of it from the person who has formulated the foundational intent, but such evidence, although competent, is not conclusive upon the triers of fact. State v. Nathan, 138 Conn. 485, 86 A.2d 322 (1952); People v. Levan, 295 N.Y. 26, 64 N.E.2d 341, 345 (1945). The accused may testify as to his state of mind at the time of the homicide, but the jury is not bound by his statement and may consider the attendant circumstances in resolving the true character of his act, including the degree of criminality involved therein. See Walker v. People, 175 Colo. 173, 489 P.2d 584, 586 (1971). The jury was not required to accept Anderson's testimony that he merely intended to wound Lalumiere by shooting him in the arm. The location of the fatal bullet wound supported the contrary inference that the defendant intended to kill Lalumiere. In addition, Anderson's testimony that he fired when he saw Lalumiere was making a move for a gun supports the conclusion that the defendant shot to kill Lalumiere in order to preserve his own life. Finally, the conclusion that Lalumiere's death was Anderson's conscious object is further supported by Anderson's own testimony that he pulled back the pistol hammer to prepare it for a second shot, indicating that he was prepared to finish the job of killing Lalumiere, if a second shot proved necessary to accomplish that result. Alternatively, the jury could conclude that, even if it was not Anderson's purpose to kill Lalumiere, the evidence that he fired a shot into the victim's chest from a relatively close range supports the conclusion that Anderson was aware that his conduct made Lalumiere's death practically certain. We conclude that the evidence adduced by the State was sufficient to support the jury's verdict that Anderson was guilty, beyond any reasonable doubt, of the murder of Joseph H. Lalumiere, Sr., and that the jury was justified in rejecting Anderson's exculpatory statements in the face of attendant physical facts and conduct so unreasonable and inconsistent with the experience of mankind. See State v. Bevineau, 460 S.W.2d 683, 688 (Mo.1970).