Opinion ID: 1223959
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Restraint of Defendant During Trial

Text: Defendant argues that the trial court erred by shackling him during trial because he took copious notes during Lee I and shackling his hands affected his ability to participate in the Drury trial. Complying with defendant's request, the court ordered that he be restrained with a leg brace in lieu of a hobble and that he be allowed one free hand to use a short pencil for assisting counsel during trial. Whether a defendant will be shackled is within the sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Bracy, 145 Ariz. 520, 532, 703 P.2d 464, 476 (1985). Courtroom security is within the discretion of the trial court `absent incontrovertible evidence' of harm to the defendant. State v. McKinney, 185 Ariz. 567, 576, 917 P.2d 1214, 1223, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 117 S.Ct. 310, 136 L.Ed.2d 226 (1996) (quoting State v. Boag, 104 Ariz. 362, 366, 453 P.2d 508, 512 (1969)). When the trial court's decision to restrain a defendant is supported by the record, this court will uphold the decision, even when the jury sees the restraints. Id. The trial court may consider past felony convictions for crimes of violence as well as prior escapes in deciding whether to shackle a defendant. Bracy at 532, 703 P.2d at 476. Here, the defendant had prior convictions for three armed robberies and two first degree murders. Further, the record shows that defendant received a head injury as a result of attacking a deputy and attempting escape from a holding cell before coming to court for the first day of trial and jury selection. The record clearly supports the trial court's decision to restrain the defendant, and we find no abuse of discretion.