Dodson v. State

SHEPARD, Justice.

In 1976, appellant Ralph Dodson was accused of fatally shooting one James T. Young. The evidence at trial showed that Dodson mistakenly believed the victim was a close relative of Dodson’s estranged girlfriend. Appellant was convicted after a jury trial of murder, Ind.Code § 35-13-4-1 (Burns 1975) [repealed 1977, current version at Ind.Code § 35-42-1-1 (Burns 1985 Repl.)]. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. This Court affirmed his conviction on direct appeal. Dodson v. State (1978), 268 Ind. 667, 377 N.E.2d 1365.

Dodson subsequently filed a petition for post-conviction…