Court Opinion

ID: 9721312
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 08:55:56.624288+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:24.658033
License: Public Domain

ON PETITION FOR REHEARING
PIVARNIK, J.
In Hough v. State (1990), Ind., 560 N.E.2d 511, this Court issued an opinion affirming Kevin Hough's conviction of Murder and imposition of the death penalty. In his petition for rehearing Hough challenges the Court's resolution of Issues II and III, relating to: (1) his request for appointment of a ballistics expert to aid counsel in cross-examining the State's witness, and (2) admission into evidence of Exhibits 4, 5 and 6, the spent shell casings found at the scene of the murder. Hough's arguments on rehearing parallel those made on direct appeal and, because we see no merit to his contentions, we reject them for the reasons set forth in our original opinion. Id. at 516-18.
However, we note sua sponte an error which requires correction. We originally remanded this case to the trial court with directions to set an execution date. This contradicts Ind.Crim.Rule 24(G) which states: "No execution date shall be set until appellate proceedings, including a petition for a writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States, if sought, are concluded." Pursuant to this Rule, we now grant rehearing for the limited purpose of instructing the Allen Super- or Court, Criminal Division to withhold setting an execution date until notified by the State that appellate proceedings are concluded. Hough's conviction and sentence of death are otherwise affirmed.
DeBRULER, J., dissents without separate opinion.