Tanner v. State

GIVAN, Chief Justice.

Appellant was convicted by a jury of Murder. He was sentenced to forty (40) years of incarceration.

The facts are: Appellant and the victim, Rodger Rinehardt, were among a group of young people who gathered in the area surrounding an elementary school in Richmond, Indiana. Appellant and the victim began to argue in full view of those who had gathered. They struck one another and Rinehardt shoved appellant to the ground. When appellant arose, he had a shiny object in his hand. Many believed the object was a knife. The victim backed away and began to run away. Appellant gave…