Porterfield v. State

OPINION

MANNHEIMER, Judge.

Todd E. Porterfield was convicted of first-degree murder and first-degree arson for intentionally starting a fire for the purpose of killing another person. 1 One important aspect of the State's case against Porterfield was evidence of various statements that Port-erfield's wife, Michele, made about the arson / homicide to a woman named Diana Knight. Knight was a friend of the Porterfields', and Michele Porterfield talked to her about the crime in the belief that Knight was friendly toward her and her husband. In fact, Knight was cooperating with the police and…