Maybe she begged off 'cause she thought there weren't "two witnesses"...
Jehovah's Witness juror - The actions of this juror are a complete disgrace, said Prince Georges County States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks.
by Sol Reform 51 Replies latest social current
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Sol Reform
Juror Email Leads to Mistrial in Prince George's Co. Officer's Death
Thursday, Jan 9, 2014 | Updated 6:02 PM EST
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Tracee Wilkins News 4's Prince George's County Bureau Chief Traee Wilkins reports on the mistrail in the case of a man charged in the death of a county police officer. Juror Email Leads to
Mistrial in Md. Officer's...The trial of a man involved in a high-speed crash that killed a Prince George's County police officer last year ended in a mistrial Thursday. One of the jurors told the judge via email Thursday morning that judging others was a violation of her religion as a Jehovah's Witness, reported News4's Prince George's County Bureau Chief Tracee Wilkins
. A judge will decide whether the juror will be held in contempt or what, if any, penalties she will face.
The mistrial has extended the case of Kevon Darnell Neal, 23, who was charged with vehicular manslaughter and fleeing and eluding followingthe death of officer Adrian Morris, 23.
Morris and his partner were pursuing a stolen silver Acura when their cruiser ran off Interstate 95 near the Powder Mill Road exit in August 2012. Morris died after being ejected from the vehicle. Police said he was not wearing a seatbelt. Both Neal and his passenger, Kenneth Clark Mitchell, 25, were arrested within two days of the crash.
Neal is accused of driving the stolen SUV. Mitchell, of Northeast D.C., pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle last October and was sentenced to time served The jury began deliberations in Neal's case Wednesday afternoon, ending the day with no verdict around 5:45 p.m.
Sometime overnight, the juror sent the email that later nullified her from serving. "The actions of this juror are a complete disgrace," said Prince George’s County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks.
"This is a very serious matter in which a police officer lost his life and it appears this juror simply did not take their role seriously at all." Alsobrooks said during jury selection, every juror was asked whether they would be unable to serve because of their religion, and the juror in question did not mention her religion.
During a discussion between the juror, judge and attorneys Thursday morning, Alsobrooks said the woman cited not knowing the defendant and not "having a dog in this fight" as other reasons she could not serve. Her religion was not mentioned during this discussion either, Alsobrooks added.
A decision on a retrial has not been made, but a new trial will not begin before May or June.
The juror will return to court Feb. 24 for a contempt of court hearing.
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Band on the Run
When I was active, no one would serve on a jury. Serving on a jury was aiding the secular government. In fairness to the juror, maybe she honestly did not know the JW belief. They change so often. Many times I assumed that some local practice was a JW rule only to find from members here that it was viewed differently in their congregations. This case was a "hot" one. The press would be certain to cover it.
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joyfulfader
Ridiculous. I went to the district conventions in PG county growing up. That county needs as many cops as they can get. So sad about the officer. Witnesses feel no social or community responsibility.
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rebel8
Here's what really happened.
This juror is new or weak in Thee Truth TM . He gets called for jury duty and goes along with it because, you know, he has tendencies to be a normal person. He gets in the thick of , then some Superfine Righteous Brother TM gets wind of it and counsels TM him to strengthen his conscience TM so he can reach out TM for privileges TM in the congregation TM after displaying courage to be no part of the world TM .
He does what he's told and the judge bitch slaps him. Not being one to learn a lesson from Caesar TM , he is bragging up a storm about how he resisted Satan's world and now he's being persecuted TM .
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Sol Reform
Mistrial declared in Kevon Neal vehicular manslaughter trial
By Brad Bell January 9, 2014 - 10:43 am
Updated: January 9, 2014 - 06:04 pm 8UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (WJLA) - A mistrial has been declared in the trial of a man accused of leading a high-speed police chase that ended in the death of a Prince George's County Police officer. Continue reading
- Kevon Neal was accused of leading a police chase in 2012 that killed a Prince George's County officer. Photo: Prince George's County Police
- Morris, 23, was killed during the chase. Photo: Prince George's County Police
The trial of Kevon Neal, who was on trial for vehicular manslaughter in the death of Ofc. Adrian Morris, abruptly ended Thursday just three days after it began. A new trial will likely take place in either May or June, officials say. Neal is accused of leading Morris on a high-speed chase in August of 2012 on Interstate 95 after police believe he and another man, Kenneth Mitchell, snatched a woman's purse at a gas station.
The chase reached speeds of up to 100 mph, Morris' partner testified, before their cruiser careened off the highway.
Morris was killed at the scene.
The actions of juror Darvida Caldwell during deliberations led to Thursday's mistrial, the State's Attorney's office says.
The case went to the jury at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, but later that night, the judge received an email from Caldwell, who claimed that she could not judge another person because of their religious beliefs.
Later, in a discussion between Caldwell, the judge and attorneys from both sides, the juror also claimed that they "did not have a dog in this fight" and therefore could not pass judgment on Neal.
Officials say that she did not bring up that or her Jehovah's Witness background during jury selection. Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks called the juror's actions a "complete disgrace" in a statement.
"Our citizens deserve to have safe communities and one of the ways we ensure that happens is for them to sit as jurors and decide who they feel should or should not be allowed to walk our streets," Alsobrooks said.
Caldwell had no comment after the proceedings, but officials had continued, strong words for her conduct. "It's really frustrating to the men and women of the police department,"
Prince George's County Police Chief Mark Magaw said.
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baldeagle
If this individual had congregation privileges, say an elder/ms/pioneer would they be removed for bringing reproach on God’s name? If they had this change of heart after the trial began would they lose their precious privileges? After all it is embarrassing to JW’s who claim to have this superior Bible knowledge, while everyone else in the world is pathetically lost. My guess is they would, for using poor judgement and not deciding in advance.
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BluesBrother
W T 1997 4/1 p29 (QFR)
What if a Christian does not feel that his conscience permits him to serve on a particular jury? The Bible does not mention jury duty, so he cannot say, ‘It is against my religion to serve on any jury.’ Depending on the case, he might state that serving on the jury for a particular case is against his personal conscience. That might be so if a case involves sexual immorality, abortion, manslaughter, or another issue on which his thinking is shaped by Bible knowledge, not by mere secular law. In reality, though, it is quite possible that the trial he is selected for does not involve such issues...........
In the final analysis, each Christian faced with jury duty must determine what course to follow, based on his understanding of the Bible and his own conscience. Some Christians have reported for jury duty and have served on certain juries. Others have felt compelled to decline even in the face of punishment. Each Christian has to decide for himself what he will do, and others should not criticize his decision.
I do not see any grounds for excusal in the U K due to conscience. only practical things like deferrment if you are due a hospital operation etc. In the past I haave known dubs making excuses and not doing it and others who did it. You must not start it though and then have a conscience moment !
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HappyDad
I hope that juror is held for contempt and fined the amount that it cost the county for that trial. That should set her back quite a bit. And her KH and the society won't pitch in a penny. That' why they say that it is up to the individual. Bull crap!
HappyDad