Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering

Mistrial Declared in New York After Juror Suddenly Announced That She Previously Saw The Defendant . . . Dragging The Victim Across a Bridge

We all wait in our careers for that Perry Mason moment that never comes in a trial . . . when someone stands up in the court and screams “Yes, I did it!” One lawyer in the trial of Earl Berry, 40, came close in a real plot twist. On the second day of the trial, a juror announced she had previously seen the defendant . . . dragging the victim across a bridge.


Judge Thomas Breslin declared a mistrial after Juror No. 8, a nurse in her 40s, finally recognized the defendant and said “I was actually driving home and saw him dragging her down the bridge — and he gave me the dirtiest look. I said, ‘Where is he going with this?’ ” She said that she recalled the incident because Berry because “he looks like my cousin.”

Assistant District Attorney Carmen Warner now intends to call the juror as a witness.

Berry is accused of raping the 31-year-old woman. In a second incident, Berry assaulted the women — the incident witnessed by the juror. He could now received 25 years.

My guess is that the defense attorney now wishes he had used that strike on Juror Number 8.

Source: Times Union

7 thoughts on “Mistrial Declared in New York After Juror Suddenly Announced That She Previously Saw The Defendant . . . Dragging The Victim Across a Bridge”

  1. “[…] the defense attorney now wishes he had used that strike on Juror Number 8.”
    Well, not necessarily. Defending the defendant should not include denying facts. If this is a real witness, then everyone (except possibly the defendant himself) should consider it a step towards truth and justice.

  4. Wow.

    I’d have loved to see the defense and defendants reactions when that bombshell was dropped.

  6. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it comes out later that she did, in fact, make a call or report the incident.

  7. Juror No. 8, a nurse in her 40s, finally recognized the defendant and said “I was actually driving home and saw him dragging her down the bridge — and he gave me the dirtiest look. I said, ‘Where is he going with this?’

    This is a John Quinones moment.

    Hey lady after you saw what you saw, what did you fucking do next?
    Go home?
    Now you remember?

    Did you call 911?
    Did you roll down the window and scream the cops are on the way?
    As a nurse who assist in repairing bodily damage did it occur to you that what was being done would create bodily harm/damage?

    Maybe you are use to seeing it because

    “he looks like my cousin.”

    Lady you make me puke !!!!!!!!

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