HELENA – The State Attorney General is asking the Montana Supreme Court to reject a request by a former Florence doctor for more time to file transcripts for his appeal of a negligent homicide case last year.
It’s been almost a year since Chris Christensen was convicted in Ravalli County District Court for overprescribing medications, causing the deaths of two patients. He was convicted on two counts of negligent homicide and 22 additional felony counts.
But Christensen has been free ever since then while the case is being appealed.
Now, the former doctor’s defense attorney is asking for another 81-day extension to file additional documents in the case, using transcriptions from the trial to support the appeal.
He’s told the court there were additional expenses and delays in obtaining the transcripts, but they should be ready in March. But the AG’s office argues the defense hasn’t shown “good cause”, noting other extensions that were already granted over the past year.
Christensen originally faced 400 felonies when the Ravalli County Attorney filed charges after a lengthy investigation.
Reporting by Dennis Bragg for MTN News
