Opinion ID: 1206820
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: voir dire examination of loren whelchel

Text: BY THE COURT: Q. Mr. Whelchel, have you been a juror before? A. Yes, sir. Q. In both civil and criminal? A. Both. Q. So you have a pretty good idea of the responsibilities as a juror? A. I have a pretty good idea, yes. Q. Taking that into consideration along with the questions I asked this morning, would your answers have been any different than what the panel as a whole responded this morning? A. No, it shouldn't be any different. I can be fair and impartial. Q. Do you have any religious or conscientious scruples that would prevent you from ever returning a verdict of guilty of first-degree murder, even though the evidence warranted the same? A. As long as it was concrete evidence. Q. You would follow the instructions on that given by the Court, whether you personally agreed with it or not? A. I would do that, sir. Q. Have you talked to anyone that purported to know anything about this case? A. Not yet. Q. Have you read in the news media or read or heard on television something that would cause you to have formed an opinion or feeling in this matter that would take evidence to overcome? A. No, sir. Q. You truly believe in the presumption of innocence and the fact that the defendant has the right to remain silent? A. I believe in that, sir. Q. You know that the state has to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Do you have any problem with that concept? A. No problem, sir. Q. Have you read or heard anything about this case? A. Not to my knowledge, I have not. I don't read much of the newspaper. ... .