Murder in The Villages-Justice Continues (Part 3) UPDATED
OCALA - Jury selection in the murder trial of Renaldo D. McGirth and Jarrord M. Roberts was slow-going Tuesday morning at the Marion County Courthouse.
The defendants are accused of first-degree murder in the July 2006 shooting death of Diana Miller in her Villages home. They are also charged with robbery with a firearm, kidnapping with a firearm and the attempted murder of Miller's husband, James.
If convicted McGirth, 19, and Roberts, 21, face a possible death sentence.
Pretrial publicity has slowed jury selection. Circuit Judge Brian D. Lambert and the attorneys spent much of the morning pouring over juror questionnaires. As of noon, no jurors had yet come into the courtroom.Lambert left the courtroom at about 11 a.m. to give preliminary information to 50 prospective jurors. When the judge returned, he told the lawyers he had excused 20 of them.
"I think we will get a jury late Thursday or Friday," Roberts' attorney Henry Ferro said when the court broke for lunch at noon. "The pace so far is not really great. People need to be patient with the process, and it will all work out."
State Attorney Brad King told the court that prosecutors have a list of 190 witnesses, plus a possible 60 more.
Jury selection was set to resume Tuesday at 1 p.m.
UPDATE (1/23/08)
Okay, still haven't completed selected a jury.
OCALA - Pretrial publicity slowed jury selection Wednesday in the capital murder trial of Renaldo McGirth and Jarrord Roberts as many prospective jurors had heard or read about the case.
Potential jurors were being questioned one by one. From the more than 50 questioned Wednesday to see if they knew anything about it, Circuit Judge Brian D. Lambert asked 22 to come back after the 1:30 p.m. lunch break.
Jury selection was set to resume at 2:20 p.m., when they would be examined on other issues related to the trial. It began on Tuesday and could wrap up on Thursday.
ANOTHER UPDATE (1-24-08)
Okay, one more day to choose a complete jury. But it seems pretty sure a full jury will be empaneled Friday. I hope.
OCALA - Jury selection in the capital murder trial of Renaldo D. McGirth and Jarrord M. Roberts took a step backward on Thursday.
After initially denying a request by defense attorneys Michael Gourley and Candace Hawthorne, Circuit Judge Brian D. Lambert agreed to strike the panel of 22 jurors being questioned Thursday.
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What led to the dismissal of the 22 potential jurors was a question the judge posed.Lambert had asked the panel if any of them knew defendants McGirth or Roberts. One man, the only black person on Thursday's panel, said he knew McGirth. The judge then asked the man how he knew McGirth. In front of the entire panel, the man said that he used to work at the Department of Juvenile Justice and knew McGirth from there.
When the panel of potential jurors left the courtroom, Hawthorne, who represents McGirth, asked to strike the panel based on the man's remark.
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But he reversed that ruling after lunch. State Attorney Brad King brought case law involving similar circumstances. After reviewing that, Lambert released the 22 potential jurors.
McGirth and Roberts are black. So far, 11 white people have been chosen for the possible jury.
Those potential jurors, who were picked on Tuesday and Wednesday, were not present at the time of the comment on Thursday. So they are still being considered as possible jurors.
Jury selection will resume at 9 a.m. Friday. The court is hoping to select one potential juror to complete the jury and two alternate jurors.
ANOTHER UPDATE (1-26-08)
Sorry, but there seems to be a media blackout. I've had conflicting information about whether the jury selection process was completed Friday or will continue on Monday. Our local news fishwrapper seems not to find it important enough to even mention.
UPDATE TO UPDATE: They did select the 12th juror...but still need 2 alternates. More jury selecting on Monday the 28th.
WHAT THE HELL! ANOTHER UPDATE (1-28-08)
Jury selection will go at least one more day. I've been told that 100+ have been called back for Tuesday. Still looking for the 2 alternates.
posted by RightinFlorida | 6:47 PM
15 Comments:
Call me...I will be a character witness.
"known them for 30"
I would call you as character witness if I had it in my power.
Thanks Florida, I sure wish someone would get a hold of me, I would let them know the REAL Sheila Miller.
Keep in touch...And Thanks again
"known them for 30"
I was one of those 22 potential jurors, and am thankfully now among the 'dismissed'. In the absence of factual and logical reasons to excuse and challenge members of the panel, Mr. Ferro has taken a page from the Wesley Snipes playbook...sheesh.
Hello Potential Juror, I wish I was a juror for this trial I know the REAL Sheila Miller...And she is guilty.
"known them for 30"
Hello!
After my experience yesterday, I don't think they want anyone in Ocala to serve as jurors..which is sad. Some of us would actually want to get at the whole truth, and decide who was REALLY involved. It's too bad that both defense teams were so busy projecting their own prejudices...
Well, Folks, it looks like it will be another day. I was informed early this afternoon that about 50 prospective jurors will be returning on Friday.
I just added a Star Banner update which mentioned 22 potential jurors were dismissed today. Guess you were one of the 'lucky' ones from yesterday, anonymous. An interesting experience, huh?
And 'known' just stay tuned. Justice will move a little more quickly once a jury is selected.
An interesting experience, indeed. I'd never imagined that voir dire would leave me shaking my head and wondering exactly who was on trial. I realize that defense attorneys are obligated to provide a vigorous defense, but some of their accusations and objections were just, well, ridiculous.
One thing that really surprised me--we were called into the room by our full names, and addressed that way by the judge and the attorneys throughout the day's questioning.
I wasn't exactly comfortable with the friends and family members of both defendants who were sitting in the gallery knowing so much about us, especially in a capital case. What happened to anonymity?
Well tell that judge there is a Michigander willing to be a juror!!!!!
Thanks "Florida" for keeping me up to date...You Rock!!!
"known them for 30"
Well, it's strange but I don't know what the status is. I've heard that jury selection will continue on Monday AND that jury selection was completed on Friday. I guess we'll have to stay tuned.
Anonymous: I've been selected for a Marion jury recently, but it was no big deal. Jury service is important, but it does make you feel like a very small cog in the process.
Known: I'd prefer to have you has the judge.
I don't know how the system works but do you think when this is all over, (praying justice prevails but knowing it rarely does)the scum lawyers will appeal with the white black bull crap that is always used when someone black does a crime against a white person? Will it start all over again?
Thank You "Florida" for the comment...Would be MORE than happy to judge this case. I would have it over and done with before the damn jury has been sat....LOL
"known them for 30"
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