Opinion ID: 1707183
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Juror Thornburg

Text: ś 141. Norman Thornburg did not sit on the petit jury. During individual sequestered voir dire Thornburg indicated that he could set aside what he had heard about the case. Thornburg admitted that he believed if Evans was found guilty that the death penalty would be appropriate. Thornburg, stated that this belief was not based on the media coverage, but rather based on the nature of the crime itself. Later, however, Thornburg stated that he could set his opinion aside and decide the case based on the evidence and the law. ś 142. Evans challenged Thornburg for cause due to his knowledge of Evans' escape. The trial court overruled the challenge and Evans peremptorily struck Thornburg. Based on Thornburg's ability to listen to the evidence and follow the law, it was not error for the trial court to refuse Evans' challenge for cause. Moreover, Evans use of a peremptory challenge to remove Juror Thornburg cured any error which may have been present. See Chase v. State, 645 So.2d 829, 845 (Miss.1994), cert. denied, 515 U.S. 1123, 115 S.Ct. 2279, 132 L.Ed.2d 282 (1995), reh'g denied, 515 U.S. 1179, 116 S.Ct. 20, 132 L.Ed.2d 903 (1995). ś 143. Like Thornburg, the remaining jurors challenged by Evans indicated that despite their knowledge of the case, they could disregard what they had seen or heard and listen to the evidence presented at trial. Based on these responses, the trial judge did not err in refusing to excuse these jurors for cause. Moreover, each of the remaining jurors were peremptorily struck by Evans and did not serve on the petit jury. Any error which may have occurred was cured by Evans' peremptory strikes. Chase, 645 So.2d at 845.