Opinion ID: 1699278
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The length of time between the publicity and the trial

Text: Although defendant's trial began on May 3, 2002, approximately a year and a half after the commission of the offense, defendant argues prospective jurors hypothetically could have been exposed to pre-trial publicity because the venire was not sequestered before trial commenced. Even though several articles were published about the upcoming trial before the jury was sworn and sequestered, these were neither attached as exhibits to defendant's motion for a change of venue nor referenced in argument. Accordingly, this Court will not consider them. See Clark, 851 So.2d at 1068, n4. Moreover, we observe the trial court repeatedly admonished the venire to avoid media coverage of the case. In any event, defendant makes no showing that prospective jurors did not abide by the trial court's order to avoid media coverage of the case before sequestration.