Defendant’s testimony is not necessary for establishing self-defense, but defendant’s subjective state of mind may be inferred from the circumstances to establish self-defense.
Criminal
Kendrick v. State, No. 49A02-1003-CR-300, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., May 26, 2011)
When defendant shot a pregnant bank teller in the abdomen, causing the death of her twins, Indiana Double Jeopardy permitted a sentence only for attempted murder of the teller and required vacation of the sentences on two counts of feticide.
Barnes v. State, No. 82S05-1007-CR-343, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind., May 12, 2011)
Affirms trial court refusal to instruct on right to resist illegal police entry of home, as “a right to resist an unlawful police entry into a home is against public policy and is incompatible with modern Fourth Amendment jurisprudence.”
Davis v. State, No. 45A05-1008-CR-502, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., May 12, 2011)
The “trial court abused its discretion when it allowed a police detective to testify as a skilled witness that the denominations of money found on the defendant were indicative of drug dealing.”
Kentucky v. King, No. 09–1272, __ U.S. __ (May 16, 2011)
Exigent circumstances exception permitting warrantless search of a home when police reasonably believe criminal evidence is being destroyed within applies even though the police’s lawful knock and announce at the house door is what prompts the inhabitants to destroy the evidence.