Court Opinion

ID: 9790048
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:45:37.812607+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:25.958395
License: Public Domain

Hunter, J.
(dissenting) — The trial court abused its discretion in denying the defendant a continuance. Unquestionably, a juror is presumed to be fair, but this does not mean that a person might not be denied a fair trial where prejudicial or improper matters have come to the jurors’ attention. Under the circumstances, it was most probable that, at least, one member of the jury identified the defendant as the person referred to in the publicity which was brought to the trial court’s attention. The defendant would be highly prejudiced if he were so identified. To require the defendant to be tried before a jury with even one juror possessed of such knowledge would be a denial of a fair trial. Either it should have been determined that the jury was free from such knowledge, or a continuance should have been granted. The trial court did neither.
The jury verdict of guilty should be set aside and a new trial granted.
June 17, 1960. Petition for rehearing denied.