Opinion ID: 2015721
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: The facts recited above were the subject of both Brian's and Angela's testimony. The statement to the Mississippi police was also admitted. Fisher asserts that his two murder convictions are not supported by sufficient evidence. Specifically, Fisher contends that he did not intend to kill anyone that night, but was provoked by the youths when he met them in the hotel room. Fisher claims the callous reactions of Chris, Brian, Greg and Angela to Fisher's presence in the room caused Fisher to shoot them in the heat of passion. This provocation, Fisher argues, supports convictions for voluntary manslaughter based on sudden heat but not murder. Existence of sudden heat is a classic question of fact to be determined by the jury. Bane v. State, 587 N.E.2d 97, 100 (Ind.1992), reh'g denied. Although Fisher did not present any evidence in his own defense, his claim of sudden heat was indirectly presented to the jury in the form of Fisher's taped statement to the Mississippi police. The trial court instructed the jury as to the elements of murder and voluntary manslaughter. Thus, to the extent Fisher asserted sudden heat at trial, the jury was unpersuaded. When evaluating claims of insufficient evidence, we do not reweigh evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses. As an appellate tribunal, we assess only whether reasonable inferences drawn from the evidence support the verdict. A conviction will be affirmed if there is probative evidence from which a reasonable jury could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Jordan v. State, 656 N.E.2d 816, 817 (Ind.1995). Although Fisher disclaims any intent to harm the youths, he retrieved a loaded gun before going to the hotel that night. Based on this evidence, and the other evidence offered at trial, the jury could reasonably have found Fisher guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, Fisher's claim of error on grounds of insufficient evidence fails.