Christopher v. Indiana

DeBRULER, Justice.

Appellant was charged with the offense of murder in the stabbing death of his wife. On motion he was found presently incompetent to stand trial, committed to a state hospital, and was later determined able to stand trial. He interposed the defense of insanity set out in I.C. 35-41-3-6 claiming that he was not responsible for the killing by reason of mental illness or defect and was tried by a jury which returned the verdict authorized by I.C. 35-36-2-3 that he was guilty but mentally ill at the time of the crime. The sentencing court found aggravating circumstances and…