Benefiel v. State

SHEPARD, Chief Justice.

A jury found Bill Benefiel guilty of criminal confinement, rape, criminal deviate conduct, and murder. The trial court sentenced Benefiel to death. We affirmed the convictions and sentence on direct appeal. Benefiel v. State, 578 N.E.2d 338 (Ind.1991), ce rt. denied, 504 U.S. 987, 112 S.Ct. 2971, 119 L.Ed.2d 591 (1992). Benefiel filed a petition for post conviction relief, which was denied. He now appeals that denial.

Facts

The facts of this case are available in our opinion on direct appeal. Benefiel, 578 N.E.2d at 339-43. We summarize the facts as follows:

On October 10,…