APPEALS COURT BACKS TYSON RAPE CONVICTION

INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana Court of Appeals today upheld MikeTyson's conviction in the rape of a beauty contestant in a 2-1decision.

Judge V. Sue Shields and Jonathan Robertson voted to uphold theFeb. 10, 1992 conviction of theformer world heavyweight champion, andJudge Patrick Sullivan dissented.

In a key issue in the 72-page decision, the appeals panel ruledthat the trial court "did not abuse its discreation" in blocking thetestimony of three defense witnesses who would have contradictedDesiree Washington, the beauty contestant in the Miss Black Americapageant who filed the rape complaint.

The majority ruled that the court properly excluded evidencethat …