Ronald Gene Fleck (Defendant) was convicted by a jury in the District Court, Douglas County, of assault by the intentional infliction of or attempt to inflict bodily harm upon another (assault-harm). Fleck appealed. The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded. The State filed a petition for review. The Minnesota Supreme Court reversed and reinstated the conviction.

Ronald Gene Fleck lived with K.W. in Alexandria, Minnesota. When K.W. returned home in the early morning hours of January 23, 2009, Fleck was in the kitchen, drinking alcohol (according to K.W., Fleck had been drinking for “seven days straight”). As K.W. walked toward the bathroom, she heard Fleck call her name. When K.W. turned around, she saw Fleck with a large butcher knife. Fleck then stabbed K.W. once near her shoulder with an overhand motion. K.W. claimed that Fleck said something about “finishing her off” before he walked away. K.W. locked herself in the bathroom and called 911. Fleck then called his brother and sister-in-law, telling them about the stabbing and informing them that he was going to take his own life by ingesting sleeping pills....

1. State all of the facts relevant to deciding whether Ronald Gene Fleck committed assault-threat and assault-harm.

2. How does the court define “general intent”?

3. How does the court define “specific intent”?

4. Explain the court’s reasons for deciding that assault-fear is a specific intent crime and assaultharm is a general intent crime.

5. Why did the court have to decide question 2?

6. Does the court’s opinion help you to understand general intent and specific intent? Defend your answer.