Leonard v. State

The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s judgment convicting Defendant of two counts of knowing murder, one count of conspiracy to commit arson, and dozens of counts of arson. The trial court sentenced Defendant to life without parole (LWOP) on each of the murder convictions and consecutive terms of years of conspiracy and arson. The Supreme Court rejected Defendant’s issues on appeal and affirmed his convictions and LWOP sentences, holding (1) there was sufficient evidence to support the murder convictions and a statutory aggravator; (2) the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it refused Defendant’s lesser included jury instruction; and (3) Indiana’s LWOP sentencing statute is not unconstitutional. View "Leonard v. State" on Justia Law