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The Indiana Court of Appeals will hold oral arguments Sept. 12 at Monrovia High School Auditorium for a case involving a man convicted of murdering his wife.
According to court records, Kevin and Jasmine Hatfield were married and lived together.
On June 11, 2021, Jasmine was found dead at her house with 23 stab wounds in the chest, arms, legs, and neck.
A 911 call was made and the caller stated that Hatfield had killed his wife.
The state charged Hatfield with murder and sought habitual offender status.
At his jury trial, the Knox Superior Court admitted a portion of the 911 call wherein the caller stated that Hatfield had killed his wife and a picture of the style of knife given to Hatfield as a wedding gift.
A clinical and forensic psychiatrist—who evaluated Hatfield—testified that Hatfield’s mental health issues affected what happened on the date of the murder.
A jury found Hatfield guilty as charged, and Hatfield pleaded guilty to being a habitual offender.
The trial court sentenced Hatfield to 62 years in prison for murder and enhanced his sentence by 12 years due to his habitual offender status.
Hatfield appealed.
In his appellant’s brief, Hatfield argued the trial court abused its discretion admitting into evidence a portion of a 9-1-1 call recording and a picture of a knife, because it was not a picture of the murder weapon or even a knife owned by Hatfield and had no probative value.
He also argued the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing Hatfield because it failed to find his mental illness and addiction in mitigation.
The Sept. 12 hearing in Monrovia will begin at 10 a.m.
The scheduled panelists are Judges Melissa May, Leanna Weissmann and Peter Foley.
The case is Kevin E. Hatfield v. State of Indiana, 23A-CR-2780.
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