Opinion ID: 2070042
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Third-Degree Murder Instructions.

Text: Appellant's assertion that the trial court erred by refusing to give third-degree murder instructions to the jury is without merit. We have previously stated that Minn. Stat. § 609.195 (1984), which defines third-degree murder, was intended to cover reckless or wanton acts committed without regard to their effect on particular persons. State v. Wahlberg, 296 N.W.2d 408, 417 (Minn.1980). Our previous decision in State v. Carlson, 328 N.W.2d 690 (Minn. 1982), is directly on point. In Carlson, the defendant went to his in-laws' house where his estranged wife and her son from a previous marriage were staying. Defendant shot his wife, her son and his wife's sister-in-law who tried to call for help. Defendant did not attempt to shoot anyone else. On appeal, this court affirmed the trial court's refusal to instruct on third-degree murder. We found overwhelming evidence that defendant specifically sought out his wife, her son and the sister-in-law who called for assistance, and noted defendant did not harm any bystanders. Id. at 694. In the present case, appellant walked into the bar and fired a .12-gauge shotgun four times. The only person hit was Thomas Kohrt, despite the fact others were close enough to be spattered with blood. The evidence is overwhelming that appellant intended to specifically shoot Kohrt. The trial court therefore properly rejected the request for third-degree murder instructions.