HELENA – Lloyd Barrus, the man charged in the murder of Broadwater County Sheriff’s deputy Mason Moore, again appeared before Judge Kathy Seeley in the First District Court of Montana on Monday.
This week’s processing are a continuation of a December “Sell hearing” to determine if Barrus should be forcibly medicated as an attempt to make him competent to stand trial.
Barrus faces a total of five charges including deliberate homicide by accountability and two counts of attempted deliberate homicide.
Authorities accused 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.
On Monday the defense called C. Robert Cloninger, MD to testify as an expert.
Cloninger is a psychiatrist, expert on substance dependence and personality disorders and 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. Once all testimony is heard, Seeley will give her ruling.
Story by John Riley, MTN News
