HELENA – The man charged in the murder of Broadwater County Sheriff’s deputy Mason Moore again appeared before a District Court judge on Monday.
This week’s processing is a continuation of a December “Sell hearing” to determine if Lloyd Barrus should be forcibly medicated as an attempt to make him competent to stand trial.
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Barrus faces a total of five charges including deliberate homicide by accountability and two counts of attempted deliberate homicide.
Authorities accuse Barrus’ son Marshall of fatally shooting Moore during a pursuit near Three Forks on May 16, 2017.
Lloyd and Marshall Barrus then led law enforcement on a chase that ended near Missoula, in which Marshall Barrus was killed in a shootout with officers.
Barrus was found unfit to stand trial in June of last year by the Montana State Hospital because of mental health disorders.
The state’s position is that Barrus be given anti-psychotic medications to treat his conditions, but Barrus has refused to take the medication.
The defense called Dr. C. Robert Cloninger to testify on Monday. The psychiatrist is an expert on substance dependence and personality disorders.
He was involved in the trial where the term “Sell hearing” originates. His analysis of Barrus led to a recommendation of treatment through therapy rather than forced medication.
“You have to understand all psychosis aren’t the same,” said Cloninger under oath.
Jodi Moore and several members of law enforcement were in attendance for Monday’s hearing.
The hearing was expected to continue into Tuesday and once all testimony is heard, Judge Seeley will give her ruling.
-John Riley reporting for MTN News
