Court Opinion

ID: 9663394
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:37:32.456645+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:49.039395
License: Public Domain

Krivosha, C. J.,
concurring in the result.
I concur in the result reached by the majority in this case. I write separately, however, because I do not wish it to be understood that I agree that as a general rule one charged with escape should be shackled during the trial. For reasons more fully set out in my dissent in State v. Weikle, 223 Neb. 81, 388 N.W.2d 110 (1986), I do not believe that one charged with escape should be shackled absent evidence that the defendant intends to try to escape from court and there is no other reasonable method of restraining him.
In the instant case Heathman was found outside the walls of the prison. Unlike the facts in State v. Weikle, supra, the evidence in this case was so overwhelming that shackling Heathman could not prejudice his case. Where, however, the evidence is not clear that an escape has occurred, as was the case in State v. Weikle, supra, shackling the defendant simply sends a message to the jury which, in my view, is prejudicial to the defendant’s rights. Because Heathman was not prejudiced by the shackling, I concur in the majority’s conclusion that the judgment and sentence should be affirmed.