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In the Indiana Supreme Court
Kevin A. CONNER, Petitioner, v. STATE of Indiana, Respondent. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Supreme Court Case No. 49S00-0504-SD-164 Marion Superior Court Case No. 49G01-8801-CF-8449

PUBLISHED ORDER CONCERNING SUCCESSIVE PETITION FOR POST-CONVICTION RELIEF IN CAPITAL CASE Introduction Petitioner Kevin Conner, having been convicted of three counts of murder and sentenced to death, has had his convictions and sentence affirmed at every level of review multiple times by various courts. Conner now requests permission to litigate additional collateral claims in state court, asserting that the jury was not properly instructed in the guilt phase of his 1988 trial. Because we conclude Conner has not shown a reasonable possibility he is entitled to relief, we deny his request. A date for execution of the death sentence will be set by separate order. Background In the early morning of January 26, 1988, Bruce Voge, Steve Wentland, Tony Moore, and Conner were together at Moore's house in Indianapolis, drinking alcohol. Three of the men (Wentland, Moore and Conner) went for a drive. While still in the vehicle, Moore argued with Wentland, and stabbed him. When Wentland left the vehicle and ran, Moore pursued him in the vehicle and Connor followed on foot. Moore struck Wentland with the vehicle. Conner beat Wentland and stabbed him multiple times. Conner and Moore left the mortally wounded Wentland and drove to Conner's workplace. While there, Conner later told police, he and Moore argued about what they should have done, and Conner shot Moore, killing him. Conner then drove to the house where Voge had remained, and shot Voge as he lay on the couch. Conner disposed of the bodies with the help of friends, then fled. Conner was arrested a few days later in Texas, and returned to Indiana to be tried on three murder charges in the Marion Superior Court. A jury found Conner guilty of murdering Wentland, Moore and Voge. The State sought the death penalty, alleging the multiple murders as the aggravating factor that rendered Conner eligible for a death sentence. See Ind. Code

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Indiana Law