Movie theater shooting jury foreman survived 1999 shooting at Columbine High School
Source: 7News Denver
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. - Jurors in the Aurora movie theater shooting trial selected a survivor of the Columbine High School shooting to be their foreman. He is the one who signed the guilty verdicts.
The juror, whose identity remains a secret of the court, revealed during the selection process that he graduated from Columbine High School in 1999, the year the shooting occurred. He was childhood friends with the Columbine shooters and was close to their victims.
Juror 737 said he spent several years trying to overcome his experience in the high school and originally recoiled at the idea of being on the jury in this trial. After some reflection, however, he said he believed his experiences might make him more capable as a juror.
In May, this juror reported to the court that he realized he was recently acquainted with a witness called by the prosecution. That could have led to his dismissal from the case, but he told the judge he was confident he could remain impartial.
Read more: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/movie-theater-shooting/movie-theater-shooting-jury-foreman-survived-1999-shooting-at-columbine-high-school
Strange
tularetom
(23,664 posts)bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)Just watch
iandhr
(6,852 posts)HFRN
(1,469 posts)there can be no other explanation
but this guys dying in prison, be it in 10-20 years from lethal injection, or 60 years from now, of old age
BillZBubb
(10,650 posts)The shooter will get new counsel and they will use this to show the incompetence of the defense. Also, the judge erred when he allowed the guy to stay on the jury after he disclosed he knew a witness.
bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)and it was known to the defense that he had this in his past. But they chose to let him serve.
LompocDem
(143 posts)This is how the 1% works the justice system. This defendant isn't among the 1% but his lawyers most certainly are...speculation on my part.
Please, I'm not slamming lawyers. They are an invaluable part of our justice system but some are only in it for the money and only want the monetary rewards of their efforts no mater what is right.
cstanleytech
(26,310 posts)And besides you would think the prosecutor would also move for dismissal as well because it puts the verdict in jeopardy.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)thanks to the gun lobby it's becoming too common.
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)But it won't go anywhere. The judge would've thrown him out if he didn't think the guy could work toward impartiality.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Maybe they think 17 years is a long enough time?
JI7
(89,260 posts)also.
Myrina
(12,296 posts)herding cats
(19,566 posts)There was also another juror who had a family member who survived Columbine. I'm not making this up, you can find it someplace on the internet I'm sure.
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)shenmue
(38,506 posts)Response to El Supremo (Original post)
1000words This message was self-deleted by its author.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Or if it can be shown that his attorney acted negligently, conceivably (though SCOTUS has been tightening that up insanely lately). However, his two lawyers (Tamara Brady and Daniel King) have been working capital cases for 20 years now.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Especially after saying he couldn't do it.
missingthebigdog
(1,233 posts)He was childhood friends with the shooters at Columbine.
A defense attorney could conclude that such a person might be sympathetic to the shooter.
Fuddnik
(8,846 posts)What kind of attorney would allow someone with his background on the jury?
timdog44
(1,388 posts)both sides would have been compassionate enough to dismiss these people. The PTSD they must be suffering and then to bring it all back with a trial and confronting the shooters, the shooters, friends, the victims of the crimes and how far must I go. They should not be on the trail for humanitarian reasons. The judge should have rejected them in the original jury pool selection.
SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)he should have pulled that one
CBGLuthier
(12,723 posts)Bad judge.
montana_hazeleyes
(3,424 posts)I really don't think he should have been on that jury.
ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)Here comes the appeal.
Kennah
(14,299 posts)Guilt couldn't have ever really been in question. Insanity was always possible.
Could the defense have reasoned that this juror might hold some sway in pushing for a life sentence rather than a death sentence? Surviving the shooting, knowing the shooters, and losing a friend at Columbine might be the sign of a healed person with forgiveness in their heart. I cannot help but think that it would come out during deliberations that he'd survived the shooting at Columbine.
KeepItReal
(7,769 posts)Doesn't change the verdict by any means
Aerows
(39,961 posts)Absolutely mindboggling.
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)...but I admittedly said that perhaps I would not have clear judgement. It's not like in TV shows, you basically recuse yourself, but I think this is an extraordinary example.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)RandySF
(59,079 posts)I can see this getting thrown out now.
REP
(21,691 posts)Nihil
(13,508 posts)Considering that neither the judge nor the defence objected to the fact
when it was clearly stated during jury selection, how come it suddenly
"sure looks bad" afterwards?
Hell, if it had been that bad a thing then the prosecution would have objected
on the grounds that they wouldn't want to allow any wiggle room for the future.
former9thward
(32,064 posts)They may have been out of challenges.
From the article:
He originally recoiled at the idea of being on the jury in this trial, telling the court, "I can't do it." After some reflection, however, he said he believed his experiences might make him more capable as a juror. He said he believed the gunmen at Columbine also had mental issues.
This person should not have been on the jury.
JI7
(89,260 posts)If he gets the death penalty this will go on and on and on. Colorado has executed only one person in the last 38 years. Nathan Dunlap has been on death row for over 19 years after many appeals. Governor Hickenlooper will issue a stay to anyone due for execution.