Opinion ID: 1762922
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: defendant's contention of breach of sequestration

Text: The defendant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial on the ground that the sequestration of the jurors had been breached in violation of La.C.Cr.P. Art. 791. That article reads in pertinent part as follows: A jury is sequestered by being kept together in charge of an officer of the court so as to be secluded from outside communication. In capital cases, after each juror is sworn he shall be sequestered. During the voir dire portion of the trial, THE COURT TOOK A FIFTEEN MINUTE RECESS. iN the course of that fifteen minutes the six already-sworn jurors commingled in the jury's deliberation room with five potential jurors who had been sitting in the jury box in the process of being examined. When the jurors and potential jurors were returned to the jury box, the defense attorney then moved for a mistrial. The judge denied the motion finding that there had been no showing of prejudice to the defendant caused by this technical violation of the codal article. The defendant argues that in State v. Parker, 372 So.2d 1037 (La.1979) this Court held that, in capital cases especially, a presumption of the misconduct arises and reversible error will be presumed for the separation of a juror after he is sworn. In Parker, supra, at 1038, the Court, however, went on to hold: This jurisprudential rule is, however, limited by those cases holding that where circumstances are such as to reasonably overcome the presumption of prejudice and where it affirmatively appears that no prejudice to the accused could have resulted, the presumption may be rebutted, so that the mere separation of a juror briefly may be held to be insufficient ground to set aside a verdict. State v. Quincy, 363 So.2d 647 (La.1978); State v. Sheppard, 350 So.2d 615 (La.1977); State v. Smith, supra. In the present case, the circumstances of the separation indicate that no prejudice to the accused could have resulted. The purpose of La.C.Cr.P. Art. 791 is to insulate the jurors from outside influences. This brief contact with four prospective jurors can not be considered an outside communication within the meaning of that phrase under this article. This assignment of error lacks merit. Finding no reversible error in this case, we affirm the conviction and sentence. AFFIRMED. CALOGERO, J., concurs and assigns reasons. MARCUS and BLANCHE, JJ., concur. LEMMON, J., concurs and assigns reasons.