Sears v. State

DICKSON, Justice.

Rebecca L. Sears, defendant-appellant, appeals her conviction of murder, Ind.Code § 35-42-1-1(1). Following jury trial she was sentenced to forty (40) years imprisonment. Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence. She argues the evidence only supports a voluntary manslaughter conviction because, she committed the murder in a "sudden heat" after being provoked by the victim. She seeks reversal of her murder conviction or modification of it to voluntary manslaughter.

We affirm.

An otherwise intentional killing of a human being is reduced to voluntary manslaughter when…