Jury finds Fort Benton man guilty of deliberate homicide

A jury found a Fort Benton man guilty of shooting and killing his girlfriend on Thanksgiving 2009 after less than an hour of deliberation.

The verdict came after three days of arguments in the Chouteau County District Court in Fort Benton.
Daniel John Paulsrud was accused of deliberately shooting and killing his girlfriend Leslie Davidson on Nov. 26, 2009 — Thanksgiving Day.


The prosecution, led by Assistant Attorney General Brant Light and Chouteau County Attorney Steve Gannon, rested its case this morning after calling its last witness.


Paulsrud's defense, led by public defenders Steven Scott and Ed Sheehy, did not call any witnesses.


During his statement, Light focused on previous testimony stating that Paulsrud and Davidson fighting on the day of her death is evidence she was shot on purpose.


"This case is vey simple," Light said. "The defendant shot and killed Leslie Davidson, and this was not an accident."


Sheehy argued that the state did not meet its burden of proof as to whether the shooting was accidental, and cautioned against viewing Paulsrud's and Davidson's arguments on the day of the death as anything besides circumstantial.


"It was a tumultuous relationship, no doubt about it," Sheehy said. "But that doesn't mean that he killed her purposefully or knowingly. The gun went off. That's what he said."


During jury instructions, Cascade County District Judge Dirk Sandefur, who is presiding over the trial, warned the jury against giving too much weight to admissions or confessions during their deliberations. Paulsrud allegedly admitted to Fort Benton Police to shooting Davidson before also shooting himself.


"A conviction cannot be based on an admission or confession alone," Sandefur said.


The case was handed over to the 12 member jury shortly after 3:30 this afternoon and a verdict was reached about 45 minutes later. Paulsrud's sentencing was set for May 9.