Hendrix v. State

PRENTICE, Justice.

Petitioner (Appellant) was convicted of Murder in the First Degree in a trial by jury. His direct appeal resulted in an affirmance. Hendrix v. State, (1974) 262 Ind. 309, 315 N.E.2d 701. This appeal from the denial of post conviction relief presents the competence of his trial counsel as the sole issue for our consideration.

Specifically, the petitioner charges that counsel’s incompetence was demonstrated by his trial in four respects.

Defendant had interposed a claim of self defense. He had, on a prior occasion, successfully employed that defense and had also been charged, as…