South Dakota High Court Hears Appeal of Pierre Teen Murder Conviction

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The lawyer for a Pierre teenager convicted of killing a classmate has told the state Supreme Court that Braiden McCahren has been denied his right to defend himself against a lesser charge.

The high court heard 19-year-old McCahren's appeal Wednesday.

A jury in 2014 found him not guilty of a more serious charge of first-degree murder but guilty of second-degree murder for the killing of 16-year-old Dalton Williams.

The prosecution asked to give jurors the option of considering less serious charges just before closing arguments in the trial.

Michael Butler is an attorney for McCahren. He says they would have offered a different defense against the lesser second-degree murder charge.

The state says McCahren was provided sufficient notice of the charges against him based on his indictment and state law.

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