State v. Kendig

The opinion of the court was delivered by

McFarland, J.:

Ronald S. Kendig appeals his jury trial conviction of first-degree murder (K.S.A. 21-3401).

On April 14, 1982, at her Topeka home, Shelly Kendig died from being shot twice in the head. Her husband, the defendant, has contended throughout that the shots were self-inflicted. Defendant was charged with first-degree murder. No theory was advanced that the fatal shots were fired by a third party. The sole issue at trial was whether Mrs. Kendig was a victim of suicide or whether she was murdered by the defendant. Inasmuch as no claim relative to…