Opinion ID: 1798829
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: the court erred in refusing to grant a mistrial.

Text: On the second day of the trial, after the noon recess, an attorney from Georgia was present in the courtroom reading the local newspaper which carried a headline concerning the trial then in progress. It is argued the headlines were held in such a position that the jury could at least read the headlines. The headline on the newspaper stated: Wife Identifies Staton Wedding Ring. The court initially refused to grant the mistrial and rejected appellant's request to voir dire the jury on the matter. Before the trial was over, however, the court realized the error and inquired of the jury concerning this event. No member of the jury admitted having seen the headline. As we have said many times, a mistrial is a drastic remedy lying within the trial court's discretion and the court's decision will not be reversed in the absence of a showing of abuse of discretion. Hutcherson v. State, supra. No such abuse was shown here.