State v. Berndt

KELLEY, Justice.

Orville Berndt appeals from his convictions on eight counts of first degree murder arising out of the deaths of his wife;' her two sons by a previous marriage, and the son of his wife and himself. All four perished in a fire in August 1981 at the family duplex home in Brooklyn Center. On appeal, Berndt claims that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the convictions. 1 We agree. Accordingly, we reverse.

On August 20, 1981, appellant Orville Berndt lived in a townhouse residence in Brooklyn Center with his wife, Brenda; their son, Corey, age 3¾⅛ and Brenda’s sons, Richard…