Grand Forks man appeals manslaughter conviction

GRAND FORKS — A Grand Forks man is working to overturn his conviction for killing his friend.

Donald Bartlette’s attorney, Kiara Costa Kraus-Parr, wants the North Dakota Supreme Court to declare a mistrial when he was found guilty of manslaughter in the October 2024 death of Tony Kiehl.

During a hearing Monday, June 22, Costa Kraus-Parr said prosecutors unfairly made jurors biased against Bartlette at trial in August of last year.

That includes referencing past drug use and testimony from a witness who called Bartlette a bully.

That testimony was objected to, and the objection was sustained.

Bartlette was found guilty of manslaughter and was later sentenced in December to 10 years in prison.

Bartlette, 46, maintains Kiehl, 49, came at him with a knife and he acted in self-defense.

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