Opinion ID: 2135087
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: C. 35-5-2-1 states:

Text: When the defendant in a criminal case intends to interpose the defense of insanity, he must file a notice of that intent with the trial court within thirty [30] days after entry of a plea of not guilty. However, in the interest of justice and upon a showing of good cause, the court may permit the filing to be made at any time before commencement of the trial. Appellant's motion was made well after the thirty day period provided by statute. It was therefore within the trial judge's discretion to grant the motion upon a showing of good cause. During appellant's incarceration between his arrest and trial, he escaped from the jail on two occasions. Although the record does not so state, the appellant in his brief admits the trial judge appointed two psychiatrists in the second escape case to examine him. Their findings were that the appellant was sane and did not have a mental disease or defect at the time of the second escape. During the hearing on the motion the defense attorney claimed he had observed his client over the course of time and concluded that an insanity defense was justified. In view of the prior psychiatric examination, we hold the trial court did not arbitrarily sever appellant's rights to a fair trial by denying his motion. The trial court in all things is affirmed.