Posted on Fri, May. 09, 2008
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Man in contempt of court for tainting jury
By ROBIN FITZGERALD
rfitzgerald@sunherald.com
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GULFPORT --
A judge has found a man in contempt of court and ordered him to pay $1,375 for tainting jurors with an inappropriate comment.The money covers the cost of bringing in prospective jurors who were to hear two trials this week in Harrison County Circuit Court in Gulfport, said Deputy Circuit Clerk Connie Ladner.
Derrick Hallman was summoned to appear before Judge Jerry O. Terry on Wednesday after he made comments about a defendant's guilt during jury selection Tuesday, court officials said.
The first case set for trial was a sex-crime case. The other was a capital murder case and hotel rooms had been reserved for the jury. Both trials had to be postponed.
Assistant District Attorney Larry Bourgeois said the first remark was: "
'Let's just say he's guilty and we'll be done with it.'
"In more than 23 years as a prosecutor, I've never seen anything like it," Bourgeois said. "An inappropriate comment defeats the purpose of selecting a fair-minded, objective jury that has no preconceived notions about a case."
Hallman and his wife had both been called in for jury selection.
The first comment came from the back of the room while a jury was being empaneled, Ladner said, and another comment was made as the couple left the room.
The judge had excused both from serving. The wife told the court she had a medical appointment. Hallman, the sole proprietor of a business, said jury duty would be a financial hardship.
"It's very unusual for a husband and wife to be called for jury duty at the same time," Ladner said, "but it does happen."
Court personnel said the first comment was made when prospective jurors were asked if they were over 65 and wanted to be exempt from serving.
Court officials said Hallman is in his 30s. He could not be reached for comment.
Ladner said prospective jurors were questioned to determine who made the remarks and deputy sheriffs delivered summonses to the Hallmans and a couple of witnesses to appear for the contempt hearing.
