FRANKFORT — The murder conviction of a man who shot a Harrodsburg police officer to death was upheld by the Kentucky Supreme Court on Thursday.

        The victim, Regina Nickles, remains the only female police officer killed in the line of duty in Kentucky.

        She was shot twice in the neck, above a protective vest, while investigating a report of a prowler on the night of Oct. 13, 1998.

        On appeal, John Paul Works claimed that various errors resulted in a prejudiced jury for his trial, which was moved to Boyle Circuit Court in Danville.

        For example, on the first morning of jury selection, Mr. Works was led through the courtroom in handcuffs and shackles.

        His attorney immediately asked for a mistrial, which was denied.

        The Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion, agreed that “the presumption of innocence can be affected” when a defendant is forced to appear in shackles in the presence of jurors.

        “However, we have recognized that it is nearly impossible to hold a trial without the jury seeing some indication that the accused cannot come and go as he pleases,” the court said.

        Mr. Works was sentenced to life in prison. The court's opinion was unsigned.

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