All articles tagged with #juror
A juror in the viral Afroman defamation trial says the cops’ complaints were trivial and their demands excessive, arguing the raid was a mistake that spurred the musician’s songs; Foreman maintains the lawsuit arose from the officers’ error. The piece also touches on Canada’s Eurovision 2027 participation and includes other music-industry notes, including Clive Davis’s obituary and Fruit Bats’ new album and tour.
During jury selection in Kanye West’s $57 million Malibu mansion renovation case, jurors weighed in on Bianca Censori’s bold fashion, with one juror calling her Grammy outfit “disgusting.” Some jurors also criticized West’s social media activity as the trial moves forward in a civil suit filed by contractor Tony Saxon over alleged wage and safety issues during the remodel. Opening statements framed Saxon’s claims differently, and the case is continuing in court.
A juror who voted to acquit Karen Read believes no collision occurred and criticizes the police investigation as sloppy, which she thinks hampered the prosecution's case. The case involved allegations that Read hit and left her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, to die, but the jury was convinced there was reasonable doubt, partly due to perceived police misconduct and evidence issues.
During Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial, a controversy arose over the potential removal of a Black juror accused of lack of candor, amid broader allegations of racial bias in jury selection. The trial features testimonies from women claiming coercion and coercive tactics, which the defense disputes, arguing all encounters were consensual. The judge is considering whether to dismiss the juror, with the defense alleging an attempt to exclude a Black juror.
Harvey Weinstein, currently on trial for sex crimes, admitted to acting immorally but claimed his actions were never illegal, while the jury continues deliberations amid tensions and a juror request for removal.
Federal authorities in Minnesota have detained seven defendants and confiscated their cellphones after a juror reported an attempted bribe involving $120,000 in cash to influence the outcome of a trial. The defendants are accused of stealing over $40 million from a pandemic food program meant for children. The incident led to the replacement of two jurors and has intensified the investigation into one of the largest COVID-19-related fraud cases in the U.S.
A juror in a Minneapolis trial involving $250 million in stolen pandemic aid reported receiving a $120,000 cash bribe with a note promising more if she voted to acquit. The juror notified police, leading to the arrest of all seven defendants. The trial, which involves allegations of stealing funds meant to feed children during the pandemic, will continue with the remaining jurors sequestered.
A judge in Baltimore denied a request for a mistrial in the murder case of a teenage squeegee worker after a juror failed to show up for deliberations, claiming to be sick. The judge refused to declare a mistrial and instead instructed the juror to either come in the next day or provide a doctor's note. The case involves the death of Timothy Reynolds, who was shot five times in July 2022. The defendant, who was 14 at the time, claims self-defense. Deliberations will continue.
YNW Melly's double-murder trial resumed for day five after a two-day recess. The judge denied the defense's motion for a mistrial, and a juror who had heard about the motion from a defense attorney was allowed to stay on the trial. Testimony from a T-Mobile Emergency Response worker and a member of law enforcement dominated the day, with objections and sidebars being prevalent. Day six of the trial will begin on Wednesday.
Michael Tisius, a man on Missouri's death row, is set to be executed for killing two jailers in 2000. His attorney has filed a clemency request, citing Tisius' age at the time of the killings, his neglected childhood, and a possibly illiterate juror. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the execution based on Tisius' age, but has not yet ruled on the juror issue. Tisius' attorney says he is on an emotional roller coaster due to the appeals. Missouri Governor Mike Parsons confirmed that the sentence would be carried out.
A federal judge has halted the scheduled execution of Michael Andrew Tisius, who was convicted of killing two Missouri jailers, due to questions about the literacy of a juror in the case. Tisius' lawyers claimed that a juror in his 2010 resentencing could not read or write, which conflicts with another affidavit signed by the juror. The judge ruled that the execution should be delayed to give the court time for a hearing on the juror.
A juror in the Lori Vallow Daybell trial has spoken out about the deliberation process and what led him to believe that Daybell was guilty of murdering her children and conspiring to murder her husband's late wife. Saul Hernandez said that testimony from former FBI Special Agent Douglas Hart on Daybell's iCloud account data was what really sold him. Hernandez also noted that hearing emotional jail phone calls between Daybell and her son and sister helped convince him of her guilt. Despite some initial doubts, Hernandez and the rest of the jury ultimately found Daybell guilty on all charges.
An alternate juror in the trial of Daniel Perry, a US Army sergeant convicted of murder, has criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott's rush for a pardon as an "egregious overreach" to wipe aside the jury's unanimous decision over a 2020 shooting during a Black Lives Matter protest. Abbott's move has been called highly unusual by legal experts and condemned as troubling by prosecutors. Perry, who was on active duty at the time of the shooting, is still awaiting sentencing from a judge and faces up to life in prison.
An alternate juror in the trial of Daniel Perry, a US Army sergeant convicted of murder, has criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott's rush for a pardon as an "egregious overreach" to wipe aside the jury's unanimous decision over a 2020 shooting during a Black Lives Matter protest. Perry, who was on active duty at the time of the shooting, is still awaiting sentencing from a judge. He faces up to life in prison. Abbott's move has been called highly unusual by legal experts and condemned as troubling by prosecutors.
A juror in the federal trial of five Proud Boys members accused of plotting to stop Congress’ certification of the 2020 presidential election has raised fears that she was being followed, according to multiple sources. The incident was discussed in multiple sealed hearings this week, and it remains unclear what, if anything, will happen as a result of the juror’s allegation. The trial, which started in December, has been roiled by last-minute delays from new evidence, an unknown informant, legal battles, and internecine arguments between counsel.