Paul Sparks v. State Indiana

Appellant was convicted of murder and was sentenced to a term of 45 years in the Indiana State Prison. The record shows that on the evening of March 29, 1978, appellant and seven other persons were gathered at a house trailer belonging to David Sparks. Shortly after 11:00 p.m., an argument ensued between David Sparks and the decedent Junior Grays. David Sparks and appellant then went to the back bedroom of the trailer. After a brief absence, they returned to the group, at which time David Sparks shot Grays in the midsection with a pistol. Appellant then argued with Grays, calling him a snitch for allegedly causing appellant to be convicted and imprisoned for bank robbery. Appellant then shot Grays in the head. Grays died later in a hospital. Appellant had been heard to state on prior occasions that he was planning to kill Grays and that Junior's time was coming. There was testimony that in the weeks following the death of Grays, appellant twice stated that he had shot Grays between the eyes and killed him.