Missoula Homeless Shelter Stabbing

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana Supreme Court has ordered a Missoula judge to re-sentence a transient for stabbing an employee at a homeless shelter.

The Supreme Court ruled last week that District Judge Karen Townsend erred in saying she sentenced John Briscoe to 20 years in prison, in part because of his lack of remorse, without stating the reasons she believed he lacked remorse.

The Missoulian reports Briscoe was convicted of assault with a weapon for stabbing a Poverello Center employee in June 2010 after being denied a request to take a shower. Briscoe had been kicked out of the shelter days earlier for violating its no alcohol policy.

Upon his arrest, Briscoe said the victim didn't deserve to live and that he meant to kill him. However, Townsend did not mention those statements in her sentencing.