BUTTE — "On the charge of count one deliberate homicide by accountability, we the jury find the defendant guilty. On the charge of count two attempted deliberate homicide by accountability, we the jury find the defendant guilty. On count three, attempted deliberate homicide by accountability we the jury find the defendant guilty."
After 2½ hours of deliberation, the jury found Lloyd Barrus guilty. The jury had spent 11 hours in the courtroom listening to the State and defense’s closing argument and the State’s rebuttal before the jury left to deliberate.
Prosecutors called out the defense’s argument that Barrus had not known about the pursuit as nonsense.
"Lloyd Barrus sitting up here in the driver’s seat could not possibly have known what he was doing which in and of itself doesn’t make any sense," said Prosecutor Cory Swanson.
Barrus was found guilty of the deliberate homicide of Mason Moore by aiding his son Marshall in the May 16, 2017 shooting death of the deputy.
"This case is an evil partnership between Lloyd Barrus and his son Marshall Barrus to satisfy their desire, to satisfy their hatred of the government and law enforcement," said Prosecutor Daniel Guzynski.
After a wild pursuit across the state that ended in a gun battle with law enforcement in Missoula county, Barrus surrendered to police, and Marshal was shot and later died in the shootout.
The defense continued to interrupt the rebuttal repeatedly calling the evidence to convict Barrus as vague just as they did during their closing argument.
"It’s their job to tell you the truth and I'm just pointing out where they didn’t." said Defense attorney Craig Shannon during closing arguments.
Barrus faces three possible life sentences which will be discussed further at a later date.
Deputy Mason Moore was 42 when he was killed and is survived by his wife Jodi and three children.
Jodi Moore created the Mason Moore Foundation which provides grants to local law enforcement agencies for programs or special equipment that may not be available through the standard governmental funding process.
RELATED:
UPDATE: Barrus found guilty of the deliberate homicide of Deputy Mason Moore
Barrus Trial: Lloyd Barrus tells police he's 'evil militia' during arrest
Barrus Trial: Defense questions tire track evidence at shooting scene
Barrus Trial: Butte police officers recall deadly pursuit with murder suspects
Barrus Trial: Deputy's patrol vehicle was shot more than 20 times the morning he was killed
Barrus Trial: Emotional testimony given as police recall shooting death of Deputy Moore
Prosecution claims Barrus intended to help son kill Broadwater deputy
