Opinion ID: 2127461
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence on the Aggravator of Robbery

Text: Benirschke claims that because he took a checkbook and money from one of the victims after he had shot them, the evidence was insufficient to show the killing was perpetrated in the course of a robbery. In Thompson v. State (1982), Ind., 441 N.E.2d 192, the claim was made that a robbery was completed before a homicide and thus could not have been part of the homicide so as to constitute felony murder. This Court noted in that case that the shooting occurred before any asportation of property and further noted that where the homicide and robbery are closely connected in time, place and continuity of action, they are deemed part of one continuous transaction. Id. at 194. See also, Eddy v. State (1986), Ind., 496 N.E.2d 24, 28 (To require that the murder occur before each of the statutory elements of the robbery have been completed would elevate form over substance.) There was evidence in this case, including Benirschke's confession to police and his statements to friends and acquaintances, that he believed the victims had cheated him out of money. He made reference to the fact that the victims owed him money in the same statement that he indicated he was inclined to kill them. The facts further show that immediately after shooting the victims, he took the money from one of them. Thus, the trier of fact could infer that Benirschke's intent was to take money as well as to kill and that he, in fact, did so.