People v. Blackwell

Defendant Larry Blackwell appeals from a sentence of five years imprisonment imposed by the Circuit Court of Hancock County upon an involuntary manslaughter conviction.

Defendant was charged with arson, murder, and involuntary manslaughter following a fire in his brother’s home on December 28,1977, which resulted in the death of one of his brother’s four children. At defendant’s jury trial, an arson investigator testified that in his opinion the fire started under the television set in the living room. Two confessions were admitted into evidence. In one statement, defendant said he set a fire…