MARION COUNTY — A Hancock County native who had her murder conviction reversed by the Indiana Court of Appeals was found guilty at the conclusion of her new trial, records show.
Rebecca Lawson, who grew up in Shirley and graduated from Eastern Hancock High School in 2008, was again convicted in the murder of her ex-boyfriend and the attempted murder of her romantic rival.
She’ll appear in court for sentencing next week.
Lawson was arrested in February 2016 outside of a home in Indianapolis, where she admittedly shot two people, killing one and seriously injuring the other, records show.
During her original trial in January 2017, Lawson claimed self-defense, saying she shot the couple because she believed they intended to harm her, according to court documents.
But the legal definition of self-defense wasn’t properly explained to the original jury panel before its members started deliberating, judges from the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled after Lawson appealed the conviction.
The higher court sent the case back to Marion County, where it was heard by a new jury last week. That panel also found Lawson guilty of murder and attempted murder, records show.
Lawson will return to Marion County Criminal Division 2 on Wednesday.
Originally, she was ordered to serve at total of 85 years in prison — 55 years for murder and an additional 30 years for attempted murder.