State v. Shannon Bullplume

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE PREZEAU

delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶ 1 Shannon Bullplume was convicted of deliberate homicide and use of a dangerous weapon to commit an offense (weapon enhancement) following a jury trial in the Ninth Judicial District Court in Glacier County. The court sentenced Bullplume to 80 years in the Montana State Prison on the deliberate homicide conviction, with an additional consecutive 10 years on the weapon enhancement charge. Bullplume appeals his conviction, and we reverse.

BACKGROUND

¶2 During the evening of April 22, 2005, Bullplume was involved in a fight that left…