Court Opinion

ID: 9679310
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 06:48:38.774538+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:12.514168
License: Public Domain

DUNN, Retired Justice
(concurring in part, dissenting in part).
I would concur in the majority opinion except for the finding that the failure of the trial court to instruct the jury on the affect of intoxication in a specific intent crime is harmless error.
This whole sad episode began when defendant appeared at Janice Palmer’s home at six o’clock on the morning of March 30, 1982, after some eleven hours of consuming various alcoholic beverages, and de*129manded the keys to her car. Palmer refused, because of Bittner’s drinking, and characterized him as being “basically intoxicated” when he came to her home.
Under these facts, the trial court was obligated to give an instruction based on SDCL 22-5-5 to permit the jury to consider intoxication in determining Bittner’s purpose, motive, and intent. State v. Kills Small, 269 N.W.2d 771 (S.D.1978).
This sudden, savage, senseless stabbing of an unknown officer lends little credence to the majority statement that his actions belied his capacity to form an intent to commit murder. If anything, it adds weight to defendant’s request for an instruction on intoxication.
Finally, how can the removal of defendant’s only possible defense be characterized as “harmless”? If it is harmless error, in Bittner’s case, to refuse the instruction, how could it be prejudicial and reversible error in Kills Small’s case? However appalled we may be at the slaying of this fine young officer, we must abide by the rules in a government of law.
I would reverse and remand for a new trial.