Undercover officer’s statement that he wanted sex from prostitution suspect were not hearsay and accordingly were not subject to Confrontation Clause protection, and defendant in any event had opportunity to confront second officer when he testified as to the first’s statement.
Criminal
Turner v. State, No. 49S00-0912-CR-565, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind., Sept. 28, 2011).
Indiana Rule of Evidence 702(b) permitted admission of “tool mark” expert’s “identification” opinion that marks on unfired cartridge found in defendant’s girlfriend’s home matched marks on fired cartridge casings found at murder scene, even though the firearm which might have made the “tool marks” was never found.
Conder v. State, No. 49A02-1012-PC-1404, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Sept. 9, 2011).
Depending on the manner in which they are used (here, to kick a person to death), feet and shoes can be a statutory “deadly weapon.”
Reese v. State, No. 38A05-1104-CR-171, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Sept. 14, 2011).
Trial court erred in concluding defendant was not indigent for purposes of appointment of counsel paid at public expense.
Vaughn v. State, No. 45A05-1102-CR-5, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Sept. 14, 2011).
Mistrial was required when bailiff, at court’s direction, restrained defendant and placed a hand over defendant’s mouth as jurors were leaving the courtroom after defendant, about to testify in his own behalf, launched into a criticism of defense counsel which continued despite court’s orders to stop.