Killed During A Burglary

Tribal members broke into the home of an elderly woman on reservation land and killed her in the course of robbing her. Because they were tribal members and the crime happened on a reservation, they were tried in federal court. Federal law lets a killing during a burglary count as first-degree murder with no proof of planning. Had they not been tribal members, state law would have applied and the prosecution would have had to prove premeditation.