Berkley v. State

SHEPARD, Justice.

Appellant Margaret Berkley was tried before a jury and convicted of murder. Ind.Code 85-42-1-1 (Burns 1979 Repl.). The trial judge sentenced her to fifty years imprisonment. She raises two issues in this direct appeal:

1. Whether the trial court committed fundamental error in allowing the State to present rebuttal evidence of the appellant's reputation for peacefulness in the community, and

2. Whether the verdict is supported by sufficient evidence.

The evidence at trial showed that on September 20, 1988, Berkley shot Steven Hoffman in a dispute over Hoffman's failure to pay one…