Court Opinion

ID: 9861535
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 00:09:21.607048+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:28:37.943186
License: Public Domain

GIVAN, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent from the majority opinion in this case. The jury may reasonably conclude that one did not act in sudden heat if a sufficient "cooling off" period occurred between the provocation and the homicide. Sanders v. State (1981), Ind., 428 N.E.2d 23.
There is no question that the trial court should have instructed the jury that the State had the burden of proof to establish the absence of sudden heat. However, any error in giving or refusing an instruction is harmless if the conviction is clearly sustained by the evidence and the jury could not have found otherwise. Walker v. State (1986), Ind., 497 N.E.2d 543.
The State's evidence shows that when appellant discovered that Bouche had another man in her apartment he drove to his home, made two telephone calls, collected his guns and drove back to Bouche's apartment. This conduct clearly demonstrated that appellant had a sufficient time to "cool off" after he discovered the factual situation. Harlan v. State (1985), Ind., 479 N.E.2d 569.
I would therefore hold that although the trial court erred in failing to give the instruction concerning the State's burden of proof, such error did not rise to reversible error because a verdict of sudden heat would have been unreasonable under the circumstances. - Walker, supra.
I would affirm the trial court.
PIVARNIK, J., concurs.