Opinion ID: 2164543
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence of Requisite Culpable State of Mind

Text: Defendant asserts that there was insufficient evidence to support the finding of the Superior Court justice that defendant acted intentionally or knowingly to kill his wife. Defendant preserved this issue for appellate review by unsuccessfully moving for a judgment of acquittal at the close of all the evidence. [1] On the basis of the psychological and psychiatric testimony, although conflicting, and of defendant's actions before, during, and after the killing, the Superior Court justice was warranted in finding beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant acted intentionally or knowingly when he shot and killed Diane. Defendant's numerous threats against his wife's life in the months preceding the shooting are a preliminary indication that he intended to do her harm and that he was extremely jealous of Mr. Richard. On the day of the shooting, defendant engaged in a number of everyday activities in a rational, normal mannerhe bought a newspaper, gasoline, and milk; he tried to replace a recently broken bathroom tile; he conversed with acquaintances; and he called the babysitter to inquire about his children. The deliberate manner in which defendant carried out the shooting, including leaving his own car in order to walk over to Diane's car to fire one more shot before driving away, is a further indication of intentional behavior. Additionally, in the minutes immediately following the shooting, defendant had the presence of mind to call the police, give them first a fictitious name, describe some of the events of the shooting, and ask for a doctor. As the factfinder the Superior Court had the responsibility for passing upon the credibility of the conflicting psychiatric testimony and deciding the weight to be accorded thereto. See State v. Mann, Me., 361 A.2d 897, 906 (1976). [C]onsiderable deference must be accorded to the fact finder's determination on an issue of defendant's mental state. Cf. State v. Foster, Me., 405 A.2d 726, 732 (1979). We cannot say that the Superior Court justice erred in finding beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant had the requisite culpable state of mind, namely, that his action in shooting Diane was intentional or knowing.