Opinion ID: 2132943
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Months before the Shooting

Text: Perhaps the district court considered, as the majority opinion speculates, that the proffered testimony was irrelevant because it concerned Quick's state of mind at least one month before the shooting and Quick's state of mind could have changed substantially during this month. But this consideration goes to the weight of the proffered testimony, not to its admissibility. First, the relevant timeframe is quite short to begin with. The shooting occurred on September 14, 2000, and the parties had only separated in May 2000, for a total timeframe spanning only about four months. The interview transcripts describe conversations that occurred with Quick's first marriage counselor in three meetings on June 23 and 30 and July 7; with his second marriage counselor in three meetings on July 13 and 18 and August 1; and with his attorney in at least three meetings on July 13, August 15 and September 6. Thus, the first marriage counselor had the opportunity to observe the evolution of Quick's mental and emotional state to within two months of the shooting; the second marriage counselor had the opportunity to observe the evolution of Quick's mental and emotional state to within 45 days of the shooting; and the attorney had the opportunity to observe the evolution of Quick's mental and emotional state to within eight days of the shooting. In a first-degree murder trial, where the defense admits that the defendant was the shooter and premeditation is the critical issue, it seems highly unproductive to apply a heightened relevancy standard to screen the defendant's testimony on mental and emotional state simply because it is not up to the minute of the shooting. Viewed from another perspective, while the state offered anecdotal evidence that indirectly bore on Quick's state of mind, the court excluded the testimony of disinterested professional witnesses who would have directly addressed Quick's state of mind. And Quick's last meeting with his attorney occurred after the events described in the state's evidence.