Murder conviction in 2012 church shooting overturned

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Court of Appeals has overturned the conviction of an Indianapolis woman found guilty but mentally ill in the death of a pastor inside his church.

The appeals court ruled Tuesday that Marion Superior Court Judge Kurt Eisgruber improperly took into account the request for an attorney by Lori Ann Barcroft as evidence of her sanity. The appeals court ruled that any use of Barcroft's request for an attorney as evidence of her sanity was a violation of her due process rights.

Barcroft had been found guilty in the shooting death of 29-year-old Jaman Iseminger in May 2012 in Southport, an enclave within the Indianapolis city limits.

An Indianapolis psychologist hired by defense attorneys had testified delusions and symptoms of schizophrenia drove Barcroft to shoot Iseminger.