Verdict in Brandon and Jesse Widmark attempted murder case

 

I regularly reported on the Brandon and Jesse Widmark case. I was the only one to cover the trial. I have regularly reported on jury deliberations. No other media covered this case regularly after the initial arrest. No other media was in court for the trial. No other media was in court for the verdict.

The trial was three weeks. Today is the 8th day of jury deliberations. Court minutes indicate jurors were asked to return at 8:30 for further deliberations. After 7 days of deliberations, I heard there will be a verdict or verdict on what counts they can agree on at 8:30.

Based on law enforcement gathered and jurors outside Courtroom 3, will today be the day that the jurors finally get excused? 

On March 14th, the 6th day of jury deliberation, the jurors informed Judge Steven Steward that the jury had reached verdict on some counts. Some counts including those on lesser included options, they could not reach an unanimous verdict. Jurors were asked to return yesterday and continue deliberations. They did.

That never works when a jury says they are "hopelessly deadlocked" but judges will ask them to continue deliberations. 

At the end of yesterday around 4:20 p.m. Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees, Ms. Andrea Sullivan who represents Jesse Widmark and Ms. Linkous who represents Brandon Widmark were informed of comunication from the jury. This morning, Judge Steven Steward said in open court what I wrote earlier.

There are 18 counts and special allegations for certain counts. There are also lesser included charges. It took over two hours with a morning break, sidebar conferences and Judge Steward meeting with attorneys in chambers to go through reading each verdict, polling the jury, asking clarifying questions.

From day 1, when jurors went into deliberations, I expressed concerns about one or two holdouts. From my observations of the jury yesterday, I doubt much has changed since Friday.

I am not linking all the posts I did on this case, the trial and deliberations. The search feature gets you access to all coverage on the case.

9:47 a.m. We are only halfway through the verdict. We are on break. 

10:10 a.m.: Court resumes.

10:40 p.m.: Jurors were thanked and left at 10:45. Almost every juror took Mr. Rees's card. I hear Juror #10, the foreperson, tell Ms. Sullivan, "I want you to know I really respect you. You did a great job." 

The foreperson also told Ms. "Juror #3 was the one we had the most disagreement with." I was correct about who one of the holdouts was. A couple of jurors will probably contact me later. 

It was very affirming to hear the foreperson compliment Ms. Sullivan. Years ago, when I started covering cases and reporting on Ms. Sullivan, many local attorneys questioned me privately. Now, they are her biggest fans.

Jesse and Brandon Widmark could have been  found guilty of a few more counts if it was not for the holdouts. Jesse and Brandon Widmark should be grateful to their attorneys.

While we knew the breakdown before, it was after the mistrial that we learned of the breakdown of guilty vs not guilty. Some charges were as close as 11 to 1.

Mistrial was declared by Judge Steward on the counts that jurors were hopelessly deadlocked. Trial setting on 3/20. Looks like DA is going to retry the "hung jury counts." Retrial just like continuing deliberations when a jury is deadlocked is a waste of time. No sentencing date was scheduled on the counts that had verdict. If that was fixed later, I will update the post.

Defendants waived jury trial on aggravating circumstances so CR2301420A/B the assault case was dismissed by the People.

Jesse Widmark's aunt found about the verdict after my post, as I am sure a few others did. DA Stacey Eads and several deputies left and did not return after the morning break and I don't blame them. The counts that were read before the break were hard for law enforcement to hear and this was clearly a win for the defense.

I did take detailed notes but I am going to wait until the court minutes which should include verdict forms are added to e court. There are 18 counts, with special allegations and lesser include charges.