Man Convicted Of Manslaughter

A 22-year-old who was high on amphetamines when he shot and killed his girlfriend’s cousin has been found guilty of first-degree manslaughter.

Prosecutors had argued Roy Allen Montgomery Jr. was guilty of the far more serious crime of first-degree murder.

Defense attorney Linda Sullivan said jurors told her several of them weren’t convinced her client had the capacity to premeditate and form the intent to commit the murder.

Proving premeditation and intent are two requirements for a murder conviction.

Sullivan argued that Montgomery was high on amphetamines and psychotic when he shot Ronald Paul Cutright on April 23, 1994.

Pierce County Deputy Prosecutor Gerry Horne argued that the drugs did not induce a mental illness.

Montgomery told friends he shot Cutright because he feared Cutright has been sent to kill him, his girlfriend and her daughter because of a botched drug deal.