46-4-205. Verdict of jury — form. (1) The jury may view the body, and the county attorney may require the jury to view the body. The jury shall review the death scene and may do so by videotape, photographs, or slide transparencies. After viewing the body and the death scene and hearing the testimony, the jury shall render its verdict, which must be by majority vote, and certify the verdict in writing signed by each juror.

Terms Used In Montana Code 46-4-205

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • Writing: includes printing. See Montana Code 1-1-203

(2)(a) The verdict must set forth:

(i)who the deceased person is;

(ii)when and where the deceased died;

(iii)if the deceased died by criminal means; and

(iv)if the deceased was killed or the deceased’s death was occasioned by the act of another by criminal means, who committed the act, if known.

(b)If the jury finds that the death was not by criminal means, that fact must be stated on the verdict form.

(c)If evidence presented at the inquest supports a conclusion that the deceased engaged police in a deadly force encounter as a method of suicide, the jury shall indicate on the form that the deceased died by suicide through law enforcement intervention.