In August of 2006 the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in the case of Heemstra vs. The State of Iowa that the Felony Murder Rule could only be used if a felony was committed independently of the murder. In the Heemstra case he was charged with a felony for pointing a gun at the victim before [...]
Tag Archives: Murder Convicted
The Felony Murder Rule
September 14, 2008 – 9:09 am
Under Iowa law a person commits felony murder when the person commits a murder while participating in the commission of a forcible felony. A person convicted of felony murder is guilty of murder in the first degree and this crime is punishable as a class “A” felony which carries a sentence of life imprisonment.
A “forcible [...]
Iowa Supeme Court Ruling
September 12, 2008 – 9:43 am
Analysis-Felony Murder. The Supreme Court held that a forcible felony must be committed independent of the murder in order for the felony-murder rule to apply. The Court reasoned the commission of any forcible felony that immediately proceeds a murder could “bootstrap” any charge into a murder in the first degree and all the distinctions between [...]