Jul 31, 2020

"It is difficult  to get a fair and impartial jury during normal times."



Jury trial scheduled for August 3 was vacated. Judge Kaleb Trial granted the District Attorney's motion to continue. He did not grant the request for a 30 day setting or to continue the jury trial in November.



Jury trial was rescheduled to October 19; trial assignment to October 7.

Ms. Andrea Sullivan is Watson's attorney. Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees is the prosecutor for this case.

Mr. Rees said that he confirmed with Humboldt Superior Court Operations Manager Kelly Nyberg and the victims' family members cannot be in the courtroom. Triantos' family members don't live locally.

They did not want to give up their right under Marsy's law to be present.

Ms. Sullivan brought up a point which is very pertinent about jury trials. She talked about the defendant's rights but also concerns for jurors and other parties during the COVID 19 pandemic. "It is difficult  to get a fair and impartial jury during normal times."

There is still a possibility that the CA Judicial Council may suspend jury trials. Ms. Sullivan is correct. People have expressed to me they don't want to be jurors right now.

"I don't wish for Mr. Watson to be a part of that experiment," said Ms. Sullivan. It was hard to hear all remarks, again due to the ongoing tech issue, Ms. Sullivan's remarks were a part of several concerns of having a jury trial during the coronavirus pandemic.

Count 1 is Murder. Special allegation use of a deadly weapon, a knife. Victim Peter Triantos.

Count 2 is assault with a deadly weapon. Victims listed in complaint are Antony Besselieu-Hill and Brian Edwards.

Previous post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/07/we-can-do-one-jury-trial-at-time.html?m=1

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