Kerns v. State

Defendant (Appellant) was convicted in a trial by jury of murder in the first degree 1 in the slaying of his wife. His appeal presents two issues:(1) Insufficiency of the evidence as to the requisites of purpose and premeditated malice.(2) Incompetency of trial counsel.

ISSUE I

The evidence most favorable to the State, together with the inferences reasonably adduced therefrom, disclosed that the defendant and his wife had been having severe marital problems. Eight months prior to the slaying, the defendant stated that he would kill his wife if she ever left him, and approximately two weeks…