Forte v. State

BOEHM, Justice.

Damon Forte was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to sixty years imprisonment. In this direct appeal, Forte contends he was denied a fair trial because (1) he was improperly restrained with leg shackles during the trial, and (2) the trial court erred in denying one of Forte's tendered jury instructions. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Factual and Procedural Background

In the wee hours of December 4, 1998, Damon Forte and his cousin, Alfred Stewart, were "shooting cans" with Forte's .22 caliber rifle in an alley behind the Bigfoot parking lot at 2901 East 38th…