Newhart v. State

SHEPARD, Chief Justice.

A jury found appellant Richard Newhart guilty of murder, Ind.Code Ann. § 35-42-1-1 (West Supp.1995). The trial court imposed a sentence of sixty years, the maximum. We affirm the conviction, but reduce the sentence to fifty years.

The evidence at trial showed that a town marshall spotted Newhart speeding. He took chase, but lost sight of the vehicle. The marshall eventually discovered Newhart in a nearby woods, clothed only in his undershorts. A bystander had pulled Newhart from his vehicle, which was wrecked and on fire. He had a wound on his forehead and a clean cut on…