State v. Castonguay

HOWE, Justice:

The defendant appeals his conviction of attempted first degree murder on the ground that the evidence adduced at trial was insufficient to prove a specific intent to kill a peace officer in order to avoid or prevent arrest.

The version of the relevant facts which most supports the finding and judgment entered in the court below discloses the following scenario:

Shortly after midnight on December 11, 1980 Trooper Mangelson of the Utah Highway Patrol and Deputy Carter of the Juab County Sheriff’s Department were riding together in Mangelson’s marked patrol ear in Nephi, Utah. They…