By C1 Staff
ELKHART, Ind. — A teen who broke into a home with a group of friends is now being held responsible for the murder of his friend who was killed by the homeowner with a gun.
FOX News reports that a felony murder law in Indiana mandates individuals who commit a felony that ends in death are charged with the murder, even if they were the victims, rather than the agents, of the killing.
Blake Layman and four friends broke into a neighbor’s home when they believed it was empty on Oct. 3, 2012. They were surprised when the homeowner came out of his room with a gun, and Danzele Johnson, 21, was shot and killed. Layman was shot in the leg.
Neither Layman nor his friends were armed at the time of the attempted burglary.
But Layman has since been charged with the murder of his friend due to the state law. He was found guilty and sentenced to 55 years.
He appealed, which has now reached the state supreme court. His lawyers argue that the felony murder law is not consistent, since neither he nor his friends were armed or fired a single shot and since the death occurred at the hands of a third party.
Layman acknowledges that he did commit a crime, but he maintains his innocence in the face of the murder charge.