Post by CCADP on Aug 16, 2005 7:52:49 GMT -5
From nj.com
Picking jury big business
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
By MATT DUNN
Staff Writer
BRIDGETON -- Crime doesn't pay, but criminal trials do, according to proprietors of local Broad Street eateries in walking distance from the county courthouse.
About 175 prospective jurors were brought into court Monday by way of a yellow school bus in the William Severs Jr. capital murder trial, bused in from Carll's Corner for sake of parking.
By noon, that mob of jurors turned out to be a mob of hungry jurors.
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Carol Parker, a manager at The Corner Cafe, said she and her staff served "quite a few" jurors Monday. Most were easily identified from the name tag attached to their wardrobe.
Those were on top of the other patrons -- sheriff's officers, attorneys, prosecutor's office staff, and other courthouse employees -- regulars that frequent their eatery.
"Trials help the business. They help," Parker stated. "We're used to jurors coming in. But (Monday) was a good day."
Across the street at The Coach Room, Manager Nicky Polo also saw an influx of business.
"We had a good lunch," she said. "It's busier than it has been. We've had a busier lunch than it has been in the past weeks."
At lunch, potential jurors were free to discuss anything except the trial they could be hearing in about two weeks, Superior Court Judge Farrell told the crowd of 175 before breaking for lunch.
The defendant in the case, Severs, 43, of Pittsgrove Township, is accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend, Tina Labriola, in the back with a high-powered rifle on Jan. 10, 2002 as she stood by her car outside of a friend's home.
If convicted, Severs could face the death penalty.
At about 11 a.m., 75 jurors were in Farrell's courtroom with another 100 across the hall where they could watch the judge's opening instructions to them via video-camera.
"It's going to be a long day," one juror could be overheard remarking to another.
Jury selection could take up to two weeks, Farrell previously noted.
After approximately half an hour, First Assistant Prosecutor Ken Pagliughi was introduced to the jury, followed by Severs' attorneys, Alex Wazeter and Timothy Reilly.
Severs, himself, who appeared in a dark-gray suit, clean white shirt, sans goatee but sporting a moustache, greeted jurors with a pleasant, "Good morning."
Farrell then read off the list of charges against the defendant, which included terroristic threats, murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, obstructing administration of law and identity theft.
Meanwhile, jurors clenched in their hands a list of about 20 questions they will be asked to assist the court in whittling down the 175 potential jurors -- it's expected there'll be 250 in all -- to a jury of 14.
Monday afternoon and for as long as the next two weeks, both the prosecution and defense have the ability to remove a select number of jurors if they feel their answers to the questions could prevent them from reaching a fair verdict.
The inquiries range from personal information, such as a juror's name, occupation and marital status to questions more specific to the case.
They include:
Have you or any family member been the victim of a crime or domestic violence?
Do you have any knowledge of firearms?
Do you know any of the potential witnesses, William Severs Jr., or Tina Labriola (the victim).
Attached to the list of questions was over three pages of potential witnesses -- close to 100 in all.
Almost a page and a half were individuals involved with law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.
Other witnesses included friends and family of Severs and Labriola.
Since there is a gag order in place, Pagliughi or either of Severs' legal counsel were unavailable for comment on the proceedings.
Jury selection will resume today at 8:30 a.m.
Picking jury big business
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
By MATT DUNN
Staff Writer
BRIDGETON -- Crime doesn't pay, but criminal trials do, according to proprietors of local Broad Street eateries in walking distance from the county courthouse.
About 175 prospective jurors were brought into court Monday by way of a yellow school bus in the William Severs Jr. capital murder trial, bused in from Carll's Corner for sake of parking.
By noon, that mob of jurors turned out to be a mob of hungry jurors.
Advertisement
Carol Parker, a manager at The Corner Cafe, said she and her staff served "quite a few" jurors Monday. Most were easily identified from the name tag attached to their wardrobe.
Those were on top of the other patrons -- sheriff's officers, attorneys, prosecutor's office staff, and other courthouse employees -- regulars that frequent their eatery.
"Trials help the business. They help," Parker stated. "We're used to jurors coming in. But (Monday) was a good day."
Across the street at The Coach Room, Manager Nicky Polo also saw an influx of business.
"We had a good lunch," she said. "It's busier than it has been. We've had a busier lunch than it has been in the past weeks."
At lunch, potential jurors were free to discuss anything except the trial they could be hearing in about two weeks, Superior Court Judge Farrell told the crowd of 175 before breaking for lunch.
The defendant in the case, Severs, 43, of Pittsgrove Township, is accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend, Tina Labriola, in the back with a high-powered rifle on Jan. 10, 2002 as she stood by her car outside of a friend's home.
If convicted, Severs could face the death penalty.
At about 11 a.m., 75 jurors were in Farrell's courtroom with another 100 across the hall where they could watch the judge's opening instructions to them via video-camera.
"It's going to be a long day," one juror could be overheard remarking to another.
Jury selection could take up to two weeks, Farrell previously noted.
After approximately half an hour, First Assistant Prosecutor Ken Pagliughi was introduced to the jury, followed by Severs' attorneys, Alex Wazeter and Timothy Reilly.
Severs, himself, who appeared in a dark-gray suit, clean white shirt, sans goatee but sporting a moustache, greeted jurors with a pleasant, "Good morning."
Farrell then read off the list of charges against the defendant, which included terroristic threats, murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, obstructing administration of law and identity theft.
Meanwhile, jurors clenched in their hands a list of about 20 questions they will be asked to assist the court in whittling down the 175 potential jurors -- it's expected there'll be 250 in all -- to a jury of 14.
Monday afternoon and for as long as the next two weeks, both the prosecution and defense have the ability to remove a select number of jurors if they feel their answers to the questions could prevent them from reaching a fair verdict.
The inquiries range from personal information, such as a juror's name, occupation and marital status to questions more specific to the case.
They include:
Have you or any family member been the victim of a crime or domestic violence?
Do you have any knowledge of firearms?
Do you know any of the potential witnesses, William Severs Jr., or Tina Labriola (the victim).
Attached to the list of questions was over three pages of potential witnesses -- close to 100 in all.
Almost a page and a half were individuals involved with law enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.
Other witnesses included friends and family of Severs and Labriola.
Since there is a gag order in place, Pagliughi or either of Severs' legal counsel were unavailable for comment on the proceedings.
Jury selection will resume today at 8:30 a.m.