How would you feel, knowing you were on trial for your life, and this was your jury?


KANSAS CITY, Kan. (June 22, 2002 11:26 a.m. EDT) - A juror's loud snores proved too much for a judge, who declared a mistrial in a first-degree murder case.

Wyandotte County District Judge John J. McNally questioned the female juror before dismissing her Wednesday, on the third day of the trial. Typically, the judge would have seated the alternate juror, but that juror was being used already.

With only 11 jurors left, the judge had no choice but to halt the trial. He rescheduled it for Aug. 19.

"It was pitiful," said Dorothy Holst, a jury member. "I just feel so sorry for the family."

McNally questioned the dozing juror after he and several others noticed that she slept continually, sometimes emitting loud snorts, as witnesses testified. The juror said she had a medical condition.

Melvin Harris, 23, of Kansas City, Kan., is on trial for first-degree murder, theft and forgery in the Jan. 19 slaying of Shane Knudtson, 27, of Independence, Mo.

That is really something...well the judge had no other choice. The man does have the right to a fair, and awake, trial.

THIS IS HORRIBLE. I KNOW HOW HIS FAMILY FELT. WHEN DANNY HAD HIS U. S. CIRCUIT COURT HEARING FOR ORAL ARGUMENTS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THERE WERE THREE JUSTICES THAT WERE HEARING THE ARGUMENTS. ONE WAS CALLED A PRESIDING JUSTICE AND THE OTHER TWO JUST JUSTICES' THE PRESIDING JUSTICE SAT THERE AND SLEPT THRU 90% OF THE PRECEEDINGS. I WAS FURIOUS

I WOULD BE FURIOUS TOO-THIS IS INEXCUSABLE- THEY SHOULD BE HELD IN CONTEMPT OF COURT

If I wouldn't know better, I would find this very hard to believe! :(

NOT HARD TO BELIEVE.... BUTCH'S ATTORNEY WAS ALCOHOLIC. WENT INTO THE COURTROOM ON ANOTHER CASE WITH HIS DOG IN HIS HAD, THINKING IT WAS HIS BRIEFCASE. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

ALSO, REMEMBER, YOU AND I CANNOT SERVE ON A JURY BECAUSE WE HAVE AN INMATE WHO IS FAMILY.... THEY WILL NOT ALLOW US TO SERVE BECAUSE WE MAY BE BIOUS.... WELL, WE PROBABLY WOULD IN SOME CASES, BUT I FEEL SURE WE COULD SEE THROUGH A LOT OF THE CRAP...

SO, NOW THEY ARE PICKING SLEEPING JURORS BECAUSE THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SERVE..

DONNA

OMG!!! An alcoholic--that was kinda funny. But seriously, no wonder people can't get fair trials.