A law clerk for a state Supreme Court justice was stabbed in the back late Friday night after leaving a televised football game at a downtown bar, and died of his wounds shortly after at St. Peter's Hospital.

Paul Anthony Raftery, age 41, was pronounced dead at St. Peter's at 11:37 p.m.

According to Police Chief Troy McGee, Raftery, who graduated from the University of Montana with a law degree this August, was found wounded at 11:03 p.m. on the 400 block of Lawrence Street.

"He was walking home from the Bert and Ernie's sports bar, heading up Lawrence Street," McGee said. "He had gone to watch the football game. We're not exactly sure what occurred on Lawrence. We're still putting the investigation together."

McGee said a pedestrian saw two males running from the area where the crime took place, one wearing a Carhartt jacket. It's unknown if the two men had any connection to the crime, and few other details were available Saturday evening.

"We haven't made any arrests," McGee said. "It's a homicide, and we're asking for the public's help."

Mickey Nelson, Lewis and Clark County Coroner, said Raftery's body was taken to the State Crime Lab in Missoula for autopsy.

"He died as a result of an apparent single stab wound to the back of his body, which produced immediate and significant blood loss," Nelson said. "It's conceivable that it was more than a pocket knife, but it's not inconceivable that it was only a pocket knife."

Nelson said Raftery has no known family in Helena. He earned a law degree this summer at UM and recently began working as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice John Warner.

Jerri Woodring, a judicial assistant for Justice Warner, worked with Raftery and was saddened by Saturday's news. She called Raftery a dedicated worker who enjoyed what he did.

"He tried so hard to do the right thing," she said. "He often worked late and tried so hard to give work to his justices that was perfect. He was just a great guy all around."

Woodring said Raftery once worked as a police officer in Washington, D.C. New in Helena, he donated pies on Thanksgiving for the Grub Steak's holiday feed.

"We've never experience this before," Woodring said.

A number of Downtown bars broadcast Friday night's Division I-AA semifinal football game between UM and the University of Massachusetts. Raftery apparently left the bar after the game but never made it home.

Justice Warner was elected District Judge of Montana's 12th Judicial District in 1988. He was re-elected in 1994 and 2000. He was appointed a Supreme Court justice in May 2003.

Warner could not be reached Saturday night for comment.

McGee asked that anyone who may have seen something, or anyone having information on the crime, call Crime Stoppers at 443-2000, or the Helena Police Department's non-emergency number at 442-3233.

Reporter Martin Kidston can be reached at 447-4086, or at mkidston@helenair.com