COA affirms murder conviction for man who killed 4-year-old
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a former Danville man’s murder conviction following the death of his girlfriend’s minor child from multiple blunt force traumatic injuries.
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Justice Department plows ahead with execution plan next week
The Justice Department is plowing ahead with its plan to resume federal executions next week for the first time in more than 15 years, despite the coronavirus pandemic raging both inside and outside prisons and stagnating national support for the death penalty.
COA affirms godmother’s conviction for assisting teen after murder
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a northern Indiana woman’s felony conviction for assisting her godson after he murdered his teenage girlfriend, finding she did so with the intent to hinder his punishment.
7th Circuit temporarily stays federal execution set for next week
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily stayed an execution scheduled for next week after finding that two issues raised by a Terre Haute inmate were “worthy of further exploration.” Wesley Ira Purkey’s execution was scheduled for July 15, but now it will be stayed “pending the completion of proceedings in the Seventh Circuit.”
Priest sues to stop federal execution over coronavirus risk
A Zen Buddhist priest, who is a spiritual adviser to one of three federal death row inmates scheduled to be executed this month, filed a lawsuit Thursday arguing the Bureau of Prisons is putting him at risk for the coronavirus by moving forward with executions during a nationwide pandemic.
7th Circuit rejects convicted killer’s habeas petition over uncommunicated plea deal
A convicted killer lost his appeal in a federal habeas case in which he claimed he was entitled to relief from a 65-year prison sentence because his lawyer failed to convey a plea deal before he was convicted after a second trial.
Justices reinstate 45-year sentence despite trial court sentencing comments
The Indiana Supreme Court has reinstated a 45-year sentence against a man convicted in a point-blank shooting in northern Indiana, overturning a Court of Appeals decision that had reduced the sentence.
Supreme Court refuses to block upcoming federal executions
The Supreme Court of the United States on Monday refused to block the execution of four federal prison inmates who are scheduled to be put to death in July and August. The executions, if permitted to proceed after further expected court challenges, would mark the first use of the death penalty on the federal level since 2003.
Justices to review murder verdict overturned due to lawyer’s lie on jury form
A Vanderburgh County jury’s guilty verdict in a murder case that was overturned on appeal because a lawyer who served as the jury forewoman lied on her jury questionnaire will be reviewed by the Indiana Supreme Court.
New execution dates set for federal inmates on death row
The Justice Department has set new dates to begin executing federal death-row inmates following a months-long legal battle over the plan to resume the executions for the first time since 2003. If the executions proceed, they would take place at the United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute.
Man who protested brother’s shooting by police fatally shot
A southern Indiana man who helped organize recent protests in seeking answers to his brother’s police-action shooting death has been fatally shot, authorities said.
7th Circuit upholds life sentence for man in Kentucky, Indiana drug conspiracy
A man sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in a large narcotics conspiracy stemming from Louisville, Kentucky did not persuade the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse his conviction and sentence.
7th Circuit halts COVID-19 release for man convicted in IU student’s murder
The man convicted in the 2000 murder of Indiana University student Jill Behrman must stay in prison while his habeas case is on appeal, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in a decision vacating a release order issued less than two weeks ago.
Appeals court grants rehearing petition for Miranda clarification
A man convicted for two counts of murder had his petition for rehearing granted Friday, but solely for an appellate panel to clarify its factual recitation of his Miranda waiver.
Man charged in weekend murder during Indianapolis violence
A man was charged with murder Thursday in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old during weekend violence in downtown Indianapolis that followed protests over the death of George Floyd and police treatment of African Americans.
After habeas win, man convicted in IU student’s murder to be freed pending appeal
The man convicted nearly 15 years ago in the killing of Indiana University student Jill Behrman will be released from custody later this month after the same judge who granted his request for habeas relief last year also granted his bid for coronavirus-related release.
Ex-Indiana prisons worker charged with murder in stabbings
A former Indiana Department of Correction worker is charged with murder and other offenses in the stabbing earlier this month of three people, two of them fatally, according to documents released Friday during a hearing.
Minneapolis cop who knelt on George Floyd’s neck charged with murder
The police officer who was seen on video kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died in custody after pleading that he could not breathe, was arrested Friday and charged with murder in a case that sparked protests across the United States and violence in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis mayor: Officer who put knee on neck of man who died should be charged
The mayor of Minneapolis called Wednesday for criminal charges against the white police officer seen on video kneeling on the neck of a handcuffed black man who complained that he could not breathe and died in police custody.
Supreme Court refuses case of condemned Alabama inmate
The U.S. Supreme Court refused Tuesday to consider the appeal of an Alabama death row inmate convicted in two slayings.