Man appeals convictions in Prada purse-linked double murder

ALBION, Ind. (AP) - A northeastern Indiana man convicted of fatally shooting two people while trying to retrieve a luxury purse is appealing his convictions and 170-year sentence.

The appeal filed by Michael J. Johnson of Fort Wayne includes a request that the Indiana Court of Appeals either reverse his two murder convictions or reduce them to voluntary manslaughter and cut his sentence to 70 years.

The (Kendallville) News-Sun reports that Johnson's appeal raises five issues, including whether his 170-year sentence was appropriate.

Johnson was sentenced in January following his murder convictions in the March 2018 killings of 30-year-old Justin Adams and 39-year-old Amanda Feldstein in Ligonier (lihg-uh-NEER').

Authorities say Johnson fatally shot them during an attempt to retrieve a Prada purse worth nearly $10,000 that was stolen from his car.

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Information from: The News-Sun, http://www.kpcnews.com