LaLonde v. State

RABINOWITZ, Chief Justice.

In this appeal Shirley LaLonde seeks reversal of her jury conviction for second degree murder. She also appeals from the superior court’s sentence of twenty years on the ground that it is excessive.

LaLonde shot her ex-lover, Dennis Yen-ter, in the back with a .38 caliber handgun at the Gold Rush Saloon in Fairbanks. The shooting, which LaLonde claimed was accidental, was witnessed by several people in the saloon. Yenter was pronounced dead on arrival at the Fairbanks hospital.

LaLonde started dating Yenter in March, 1977. Three or four weeks later, they began living…