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Criminal Law Keyed to LaFave
State v. Bottoms
Citation:
87 S.W.3d 95 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001)Facts
On the evening of the incident, William Bottoms had been drinking alcohol. He and his wife, Diane Bottoms, had been arguing throughout the day. During the evening, the defendant retrieved a gun from his bedroom and shot his wife multiple times, killing her. Witnesses testified that despite his drinking, Bottoms appeared to know what he was doing and made statements indicating intent before the shooting. After the shooting, he called 911 and admitted to killing his wife. At trial, Bottoms claimed that his intoxication was so severe that he could not have formed the premeditation necessary for first-degree murder. However, the prosecution presented evidence that Bottoms’ actions showed planning and deliberation despite his intoxication.
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