INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal for a man convicted of two murders.
Kyle DeHart had asked the state’s high court to hear his appeal after the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld his conviction.
On Sept. 21, the high court denied to hear the case. DeHart was convicted in October of the murders of Tara Thornburg and Joshua Knisely in February 2015.
The appeals court rejected DeHart’s claim that the there was insufficient evidence to convict him. It also ruled on rap songs that DeHart claims were admitted into evidence erroneously.
Prosecutors used the rap songs to show DeHart’s propensity toward violence. The court agreed that the songs should not be allowed in the trial, but ruled that they had no impact on the verdict in light of all the other evidence.
Police say DeHart went with Thomas Hursey and Brandon Woody to Thornburg’s house to buy marijuana. When Thornburg realized the men had no intention of paying for the weed, an argument ensued and Woody shot Knisely and Thornburg.
Police say the three men went to DeHart’s house and burned the clothes used in the murder. Woody and DeHart were sentenced to 120 and 110 years in prison, respectively. The appeals court upheld Woody’s conviction on July 27.
Woody also has asked the Supreme Court to hear his appeal. The high court has not ruled whether to accept the case or not.
Hursey pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery in connection with the murders, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
