State v. Fish

Defendant was convicted of first degree burglary1 and felony murder.2 He received the maximum sentences of 20 years imprisonment for burglary and life imprisonment for murder, the terms to run consecutively.

On March 29, 1976, defendant entered the victim’s residence by breaking a window. His admitted purpose in doing so was "to relieve the old lady of all of her jewels.” During the course of the burglary, the victim apparently offered resistance and defendant assaulted her, causing her death. There was evidence that defendant is an alcoholic, that he had been drinking on the evening of the…