Lawrence v. State

I respectfully dissent. In cases since Spradlin v. State, 569 N.E.2d 948 (Ind.1991) our supreme court has consistently reaffirmed the rule that a jury instruction on attempted murder shall inform the jury that "the act must have been done with the specific intent to kill." Simmons v. State, 642 N.E.2d 511, 513 (Ind.1994). See also Beasley v. State, 643 N.E.2d 346, 348 (Ind.1994) (attempted murder instruction must include the required mens rea of specific intent); (Greer v. State, 643 N.E.2d 324, 326 (Ind.1994) (specific intent requirement vital in attempted murder instruction). As the court…