- (a) The state may seek, on a page separate from the rest of the charging instrument, to have a person who allegedly committed or attempted to commit murder under IC 35-42-1-1 (1) or IC 35-42-1-1 (2) sentenced to an additional fixed term of imprisonment if the state can show beyond a reasonable doubt that the person, while committing or attempting to commit murder under IC 35-42-1-1 (1) or IC 35-42-1-1 (2), caused the termination of a human pregnancy.
- (b) If the person is convicted of the murder or attempted murder in a jury trial, the jury shall reconvene to hear evidence in the enhancement hearing. If the trial was to the court, or the judgment was entered on a guilty plea, the court alone shall hear evidence in the enhancement hearing.
- (c) If the jury (if the hearing is by jury) or the court (if the hearing is to the court alone) finds that the state has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the person, while committing or attempting to commit murder under IC 35-42-1-1 (1) or IC 35-42-1-1 (2), caused the termination of a human pregnancy, the court shall sentence the person to an additional fixed term of imprisonment of not less than six (6) or more than twenty (20) years.
- (d) A sentence imposed under this section runs consecutively to the underlying sentence.
(e) For purposes of this section, prosecution of the murder or attempted murder under IC 35-42-1-1 (1) or IC 35-42-1-1 (2) and the enhancement of the penalty for that crime does not require proof that:
- (1) the person committing or attempting to commit the murder had knowledge or should have had knowledge that the victim was pregnant; or
- (2) the defendant intended to cause the termination of a human pregnancy.
As added by P.L.40-2009, SEC.2.