Merritt v. State

SHEPARD, Justice.

Appellant Kenneth Merritt was convieted after trial by jury of robbery, a class B felony, Ind.Code § 85-42-5-1 (Burns 1985 Repl.), and burglary, a class B felony, Ind. Code § 85-48-2-1 (Burns 1985 Repl.), and was sentenced to two concurrent 14 year terms of imprisonment. He raises the following issues in this direct appeal:

1. Whether his constitutional rights were violated when the State used a peremptory challenge to eliminate the only black from the jury; and,

2. Whether the court erred in denying his motion to suppress admission of a knife taken from him when he was…