Believe it or not, despite the horrific slaughter happening in the summer of 2012, the trial of alleged Aurora, Colo. theater shooting suspect James Holmes is only in its 28th day, and the specter of a mistrial was already in the air as a fourth juror told the judge that three other jurors had been reading social media and discussing the case.
all three should be dismissed IMHO why chance any appeal with so many alternates in #Theatershooting?
— Jeffrey Evan Gold (@jeffgoldesq) June 9, 2015
Your wish is granted. Judge Carlos Samour Jr. dismissed three jurors from the trial today, although there are 12 alternates on standby.
This leaves 21 on the #theatershooting panel. 16 women, five men.
— Larry Ryckman ☀️ (@larryryckman) June 9, 2015
One of the jurors had read and discussed with other jurors a since-deleted tweet posted by District Attorney George Brauchler while court was in session.
@GeorgeBrauchler tweet sent yesterday DURING court, "I agree on the video. I hope the jury thinks so too." #theatershooting
— Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) June 5, 2015
Juror 673 is referencing a Twitter posting by @GeorgeBrauchler. #theatershooting
— Larry Ryckman ☀️ (@larryryckman) June 9, 2015
This is the tweet that prompted the judge to scold @GeorgeBrauchler last week. DA called it an embarrassing mistake at the time.
— Larry Ryckman ☀️ (@larryryckman) June 9, 2015
Text of @GeorgeBrauchler text sent from #theatershooting courtroom last week: "I agree on the video. I hope the jury thinks so too."
— Larry Ryckman ☀️ (@larryryckman) June 9, 2015
Another juror had reportedly discussed the case over the phone with her husband, according to the Denver Post. He had read on Facebook that “that idiot’s tweeting,” referring to Brauchler. Asked by the judge why she didn’t bring the conversation to his attention, the juror reportedly explained, “I just really don’t pay that much attention to my husband.”
She and two other jurors were dismissed.
According to Juror 673, Juror 872 has been chatty with at least 2 others about #theatershooting trial doings about DA tweet, mistrial motion
— Larry Ryckman ☀️ (@larryryckman) June 9, 2015
Other juror also made reference to a previous motion for a mistrial. This discussion involved same 4 #theatershooting jurors, Juror 673 says
— Larry Ryckman ☀️ (@larryryckman) June 9, 2015
https://twitter.com/skooyo21/status/608307875937701888
A final piece of advice that we hope none of the jurors sees:
Get the hell off Twitter and Facebook jurors! #theatershooting
— Justice For Victims (@ElMuertoArias) June 9, 2015
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