State v. Crabtree

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Abbott, J.:

This is a direct appeal by Tommy Joe Crabtree from his conviction by a jury of second-degree murder (K.S.A. 21-3402). He was convicted for the shotgun slaying of his stepfather, Marion Clay.

Crabtree raises two issues on appeal. He contends a combination of prosecutorial and judicial misconduct deprived him of a fair trial as guaranteed by the due process clause of the federal and state constitutions. He also argues that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury that the affirmative defense of self-defense did not shift the…