Opinion ID: 853615
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence of Sudden Heat

Text: During the trial, Boone attempted to show a growing trend of frustration, anger and confrontation on the part of Boone and Campbell. Boone testified that, before going over to Campbell's house, she was upset because Sutton hung the telephone up on her. She then drove to Campbell's home where an argument erupted and Campbell was shot. Boone contends that her angry state of mind can be characterized as sudden heat, which the State must disprove beyond a reasonable doubt. Sudden heat is a mitigating factor that reduces otherwise murderous conduct to voluntary manslaughter, but is not an element of voluntary manslaughter. [1] Furthermore, sudden heat requires sufficient provocation to engender passion, which is demonstrated by anger, rage, sudden resentment, or terror that is sufficient to obscure the reason of an ordinary person, prevent deliberation and premeditation, and render the defendant incapable of cool reflection. Horan v. State, 682 N.E.2d 502 (Ind.1997). On February 14, 1998, an altercation ensued between Boone and Campbell at Sutton's house that was defused by officers. The record indicates that Boone spent the night at a friend's house where she got some sleep, giving her time to cool off. The next morning she telephoned Sutton, and he hung up on her. Boone then drove to Campbell's home with a gun, and shot her. Even if she woke up on February 15th still angry, and the telephone call made her more angry, the ride over to Campbell's home should have given Boone ample opportunity to think about the action she was about to undertake. The jury could have concluded that sufficient time elapsed affording Boone time for cool reflection. Furthermore, the jury could have concluded that Boone was making good on her earlier declaration to get that bitch. Existence of sudden heat is a classic question of fact to be determined by the jury. Fisher v. State, 671 N.E.2d 119, 121 (Ind.1996). Enough evidence was introduced for the jury to infer that sudden heat was not present.