Kansas Death Penalty Unit to represent man accused of killing Wyandotte County deputy
Shawn Harris, 38, has been charged with one count of capital murder and one count of criminal possession of a weapon by a felon for the death of .
Man faces capital murder charge in deadly shooting of Wyandotte County deputy
Online court records show that three attorneys with the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit have been appointed to represent Harris:
Mark Manna, chief attorney of the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit
Peter L. Conley with the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit
Steve Rupert with the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit
FOX4 reached out to Manna, who sent us the following statement:
'Our office has been appointed to represent Mr. Harris. Our office handles representation of all indigent criminal defendants charged with capital murder across the State of Kansas. At this time we have no further comment.'
What is the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit?
The Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit is a specialized division within the Kansas State Board of Indigents' Defense Services (BIDS), which focuses on providing legal representation to those facing capital murder charges in Kansas, specifically those who cannot afford their own attorney.
According to the BIDS website, an average of 85% of adults charged with felonies in Kansas qualify for the services it provides. During fiscal year 2020, BIDS said it handled more than 26,000 cases.
How you can donate to family of fallen Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming
Attorneys within the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit are appointed to cases by the court, in accordance with state law.
'Our office is automatically appointed by the court to any capital murder case in which a criminal defendant is determined to be indigent,' Manna told FOX4 via email. 'We are part of the public defender system and a State of Kansas agency.'
BIDS typically bears the cost of defending capital murder cases. The funds for this come primarily from the state, according to the Kansas Legislative Research Department.
The 2021 Legislature approved a budget of $41.8 million, including $41.2 million from the State General Fund, for BIDS for fiscal year 2022, according to a budget analysis report.Wyandotte County deputy killed in KCK shootingWho was Elijah Ming? Tributes roll in for Wyandotte County deputy shot, killed in KCK
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