University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
CJS 320 | Introduction to Criminal Law and Legal Analysis
Academic year:

2021
Views:

374

Pages:

1
Author:

Faith G.

State v. Guthrie Supreme Court of Appeals of WV, 1995 Facts: - Mr. Guthrie is a dishwasher at a restaurant accused of murder in the first. He took a knife out of his pocket and stabbed his co-worker in the neck. The coworker was joking around with Mr. Guthrie and whipped him in the nose with a towel. Guthrie then took off his gloves, charged at the victim and took the knife out of his pocket and stabbed him in the neck. - Procedural History: Mr. Guthrie was convicted of Murder in the 1st by the lower court, he now appeals. - Defendant’s Argument: Defendant claims that due to his psychiatric conditions he should not be charged with murder in the 1st and only be charged with murder in the 2nd due to a panic attack. He claims the lower court’s instructions to the jury were incorrect when they stated that it was “willful, deliberate and premeditated were equated with a mere intent to kill” Issue: - Did the Defendant have an intent to kill and commit murder in the 1st? Holding: - Trial court was reversed and the case was remanded for a new trial. Court’s Reasoning: - The court in this case changed the traditional common law about how to define the intent of murder in the 1st. It now states that the time for prior consideration to intent for murder cannot be a fixed period of time as it once was.