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this is never a good thing. your dad was shot. i collapsed to the floor. none of it made sense to me. i had to hear the whole story. >> fences make good neighbors, they say. this was made for a fight. >> drug private property without permission. >> we are? >> big sky country, small by one man. >> the neighbors felt he was a bully. >> this man, who refused to be fenced in. >> praise for this country. >> a showdown, for shooting, and one man died. >> on his elbow, he said, he shouldve do...

this is dateline. >> shes, like christy, i need you to sit down. im like, oh, no. this is never a good thing. your dad was shot. i collapsed to the floor. none of it made sense to me. i had to hear the whole story. >> fences make good neighbors, they say. this was made for a fight. >> drug private property without permission. >> we are? >> big sky country, small by one man. >> the neighbors felt he was a bully. >> this man, who refused to be fenced in. >> praise for this country. >> a ...

Originally. we said, we are going. >> this was our paradise. even though it was shattered, we were willing to walk away. >> many neighbors vented to the sheriff about joe campbell. >> why isnt he a jail, they shot a person? why did we do something about it? but there is a montana law that guides our behavior. >> the question became, one of intent. >> yes. >> if you intended to defend yourself within the law, if you intend to kill somebody because he is a pain in the butt, its against the law. >>...

It was hard to know what a jury might decide. >> if they find it not guilty, there will be for sale signs everywhere up there. >> so, nurses hours around the old code room. which turned into a hold they, and then into a second. >> there is so much anxiousness, just waiting for the jury to come back. >> and then? just afternoon. they too. the jury set the judge a note. >> please be seated. >> and everybody was summoned to the courtroom. >> i am told that you folks are hopelessly deadlocked and th...

What will you die? >> that makes me very angry. yeah, very upset, very sad. like who, who is this guy that can just steal such a beautiful soul from this world? >> the judge offered joe a chance to explain, or apologize. >> is there anything that you would like to say? >> now, your honor. >> campbell also declined a chance to explain on dateline. his lawyer issued a statement which reads in part, the plea agreement allowed mr. campbell, his wife, his family, to go forward with a certain array of...

Im craig melvin. a gun wielding neighborhood bully. that is how witnesses described the accused killer. but when joe campbell took the stand the defense was hoping to change that. painting him as a husband and grandfather in fear of his life. what version with the jury believe? heres karen morrison with the conclusion of the feud. >> on the 3rd of march 2016, and the old supreme court chamber of montana state capitol building. the question went to the jury. did joe campbell have a right to issue...

In the court, took an oath and lied in front of the story? is that right? >> objection. >> ultimately, the prosecutor said, joe campbell could have avoided a confrontation. could have, but did not. because he wanted it. >> all you have to do to save your wife, to save yourself, is to turn downhill and walk, dog, run, down that hill to safety. >> i looked at some of those options, mr. kaczynski, its a hell of a lot harder on the health side. when someone is striking you than to stand in a courtro...