State v. Christianson

LARSON, Justice.

Pamela Christianson has appealed her conviction and sentence for involuntary manslaughter under Iowa Code section 707.5(1) (1997). The issue raised is one of first impression: whether the results of a blood alcohol test are admissible, under the doctrine of inevitable discovery, despite a lack of reasonable grounds to believe the defendant was intoxicated at the time a sample of blood was taken for alcohol analysis. We conclude the doctrine of inevitable discovery is inapplicable to our implied-consent law and therefore reverse the conviction.

I. Facts and Prior Proceedings.

On…