State v. Lowry

[¶ 1] Malia Lowry appeals from a judgment of conviction for manslaughter, 17-A M.R.S.A. § 203(1)(A) (Supp.2002), following a jury trial in the Superior Court (Hancock County, Marsano, J.), contending that the trial court committed reversible error by conducting a prejudicially flawed voir dire. Because the court did exceed the bounds of its discretion during voir dire, we vacate the judgment and remand for a new trial. 1

I. CASE HISTORY

[¶ 2] On July 6, 2000, the police arrested Malia Lowry for the shooting death of Robert Leighton. The State charged her by criminal complaint in the Maine…