OK, Here goes nothing!
I do not have a flame suit on, nor do I have a wish to receive hate mail about this deal. The trial was held about 8 miles from where I live. As I recall, the jurors were pretty convinced he felt threatened by the actions of Pogue(sp). The ONLY reason he was convicted was because of the head shots. The concensus was that the head shot was not a reaction, but a decision to terminate them. That being said(recalled?), on to the escape issue. I may be loosely quoting, but Idaho law states that if a prisoner, convicted or otherwise, feels imminent threat to their life/safety, they may flee custody. I believe this is from the old days of vigilante justice. I am not sure if this law is still on the books, due to it being used by Dallas as his defense. He is still a heated subject around here, pro or con. I was always intrigued by the case and have met 2 of the more central figures. Sheriff of Owyhee county, Tim Nettleton considers Dallas a murderer in the most vile fashion. He is a man of impeccable character. I lived in the Twin Falls, Idaho area a few years later and met the witness to the shootings. He in no way resembled the timid,trembling,spineless character of the tv movie. He did not care to elaborate on the events. The person who introduced us did relate what he had been told. The witness told him there were threats made, and a gunfight ensued. I think a point was reached where there was no turning back. It is sad that two men lost there lives, and a third lost most of his, over a ticket. It should have been settled/fought in court. Things were done, looking back,that were foolish. My opinion on the case is that Pogue said or did something that Dallas saw as a threat, and the initial shots were fired. When he realized what he had done, Dallas finished the job. But after years of heated arguments, I do not care to continue them. He was convicted and did the time. DK.