Opinion ID: 2232885
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Champlain's Statements in the Ambulance and at the Hospital

Text: Champlain was badly beaten and was taken to a hospital for medical attention. On the way, he told an emergency medical technician that he had fired the shotgun three times, but did not know if he had shot anyone. The defendant also referred to the dispute as a lover's quarrel and continuously asked how Vanlue was doing. Record at 653. He repeated the gist of these statements to another paramedic during the ambulance ride. Record at 660. At 1:40 a.m., Champlain's blood alcohol content was measured at 0.15% and 0.19% by two different methods. Record at 710-11. An emergency room nurse who treated Champlain around 2 or 3 a.m. at the hospital testified that Champlain told him: Well, I was upset with this girl and I shot her through the door to get in the house, and, Well, I just wanted to scare her. I didn't know she was behind the door. Record at 701, 706. The defendant also told the nurse in essence that he shot the lock off the door to get in the house because it was locked and that he didn't mean to shoot her. Record at 707. Around 4:30 a.m., a police officer went to Champlain's hospital room to arrest him for the murder. As the officer turned to leave the room, the defendantwho had known for at least fifty minutes that Vanlue was deadvolunteered: I didn't mean to kill her. Record at 690-91. Champlain's statements were admitted via the testimony of others and he did not testify in his own defense at trial. Champlain was charged with Vanlue's murder and convicted. He appeals. This Court has jurisdiction under Indiana Appellate Rule 4(A)(7).