Riley v. State

Blackburn, Chief Judge.

Following a jury trial, Kinte Riley appeals his conviction for burglary, contending that: (1) the trial court erred by conducting the trial in his absence; (2) the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict; and (3) the trial court erred by refusing his request to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of criminal trespass. For the reasons set forth below, we reverse.

1. Riley contends, and the State concedes, that the trial court violated his Sixth Amendment right to confrontation of witnesses by conducting the trial in his absence. We agree.

The record…