Opinion ID: 1206820
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: voir dire examination of eugene winters

Text: BY MR. FOUSER: Q. You have been a juror before? A. Yes. Q. How many times in this term have you sat as a juror? A. Two times. Q. Were these both criminal cases? A. No. Q. One was civil, or both were civil? A. One was a DWI and the other was harboring a fugitive. Q. I suppose from that experience you understand that the prosecuting attorney has the burden of proving Don guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? A. Yes. Q. You are aware there are certain elements to each crime, each of which must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Do you remember that from your other trials? A. Yes. Q. If one of the elements of this crime of first-degree murder were not proven to you beyond a reasonable doubt, would you have any hesitancy in returning a verdict of not guilty? A. No, I don't believe so. Q. I don't want to tell you the elements because that's the judge's job, but I'm sure there will be some instructions given to you on that. Have you read anything in the papers about this case? A. Well, a little bit. Q. Do you remember anything you have read about it? A. Only that they was going to have a trial. I read a piece the other day in the paper. I guess most everybody did. We don't take the paper, but I did read a piece about it in the paper. Q. Did you read anything about the facts of the case in the paper; what they said might have been done or taken? A. Well, they didn't present any evidence in the paper. Q. Was that yesterday? A. Yes, I believe it was Sunday. Q. But at any rate, you would not have any problem giving Don a fair and impartial trial? A. No, I don't know why I would. Q. You would not require him to prove that he is innocent, would you? A. Well, all I would have to go on is what the Court presented to me as evidence. That;'s all we can go on. Q. What I'm getting at is you understand that we have no duty to prove that Don is innocent; that the whole duty or burden is on the prosecutor to prove him guilty? A. Yes, I understand that. MR. FOUSER: Thank you. I would pass Mr. Winters for cause. ....