Demetrius Coleman expected to testify in his jury trial

Individual juror questioning has been completed and jury selection is proceeding right now in Rio Dell homicide suspect Demetrius Coleman's trial.

 Ms. Andrea Sullivan is Coleman's attorney. Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Schaffer is the prosecutor for the case. District Attorney Investigator Kyla Baxley was at the attorney table with Ms. Schaffer.

Ms. Schaffer is asking questions about single witness testimony and "innocent until proven guilty". She stressed that the "defendant has the absolute right not to testify" and "If I do my job, will you be hesitant to find the defendant guilty."

Ms. Schaffer and Judge Kelly Neel asked questions that I have heard before and they were standard questions in a jury trial. Ms. Sullivan asked some questions and a hypothetical that I haven't heard before and it elicited responses from jurors that I think are excellent for the defense and a great way to see if jurors understand crucial  legal concepts . 

"If you were to go deliberate right now without hearing any evidence, what would your verdict be?" Ms. Sullivan asked jurors.

One juror responded, "without hearing any evidence, it would not be an accurate verdict."

"If you can't reach an accurate verdict, what would your vote be?"  Ms. Sullivan asked that juror.

"Not guilty," responded the juror.

Same question to another juror. After that juror's response, Ms. Sullivan said, "If you are not sure, what would your vote be?"

"Not guilty."

The trial is being livestreamed. I also covered the preliminary hearing in detail so the coverage of the jury trial will be similar to other jury trials I have covered since the COVID 19 court related closures.

Ms. Sullivan told jurors there will be evidence about the marijuana industry in the case and "from all sides."

Ms. Sullivan told jurors," It is expected that he will testify in this case," referring to Coleman.

She then asked jurors did any one have expectations that Coleman might have some credibility issues just because he has been accused of a crime.

18 jurors are being questioned at a time. The others watch the voir dire before a new group of six jurors are brought into the courtroom.

Twelve jurors have been selected. Jurors are being questioned to be picked as alternates this afternoon.

At 4 p.m. Judge Kelly Neel was reading opening jury instructions to jurors. Opening statements are on October 22 at 9 a.m.

Previous post:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/10/better-get-used-to-trial-by-livestream.html?m=1

Related post:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/10/does-postponement-of-jovan-ignjatovics.html?m=1