Juror dismissed; deliberations to begin 'from scratch'
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
A juror was excused Monday morning and replaced with the first alternate juror in the Wesley Coonrod trial. Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss ordered that deliberations are to begin "from scratch."
The court assembled Monday morning in Pickaway County Common Pleas Court, during which the judge met in chambers with defense council and prosecution to discuss a question posed by the jury Friday night. When the court reassembled at approximately 10 a.m. Monday, Coss noted that the discussions that took place in chambers were on the record with the court reporter, but he did not state from the bench what the matter was regarding; he only noted that it was "a matter of law."
In speaking to the jury, Coss said that all notes from Friday's deliberation were to be sealed in an envelope and collected by the court. He told the jury to proceed "as if nothing happened Friday."
After the judge released the jurors to deliberate, he declined to answer questions regarding what led to the juror's dismissal.
This is the sixth day of the trial for Coonrod. Deliberations began Friday, and jurors deliberated for approximately six hours before being dismissed for the weekend.
At 8:55 p.m. Friday, the court received a request to adjourn for the evening as well as an additional note from the jury. Upon reading the note, Judge Rocky Coss asked to see the attorneys in chambers. When the court reassembled, the note was not read on the record. Coss dismissed the jury for the weekend and told the jury foreperson to report back Monday at 8:30 a.m. and the rest of the jury to report back at 9 a.m., when deliberations will continue.
Coss told the foreperson, "We will address the issue at that time." When court was dismissed, Coss told the Highland County Press that the note would be read on the record at some point, but he wanted to take the time to research the issue further before making any decisions.
Coonrod, 43, of Greenfield, was found guilty in October in Highland County Common Pleas Court on two counts of felony endangering children. He had faced aggravated murder charges with death penalty specifications stemming from a March fire in his apartment on Lafayette Street in Greenfield, during which his sons Thomas, 4, and Stephen, 3, were killed. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the aggravated murder charges, two charges of murder with lesser charges of manslaughter and reckless homicide, and aggravated arson. The state will not seek to retry him on the aggravated murder charges, so he is no longer facing the death penalty. The jury will also consider a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. The trial was moved to Pickaway County in so that a jury could be more easily seated than in Highland County.
At approximately 7:20 p.m., the court assembled to address a question from the jury. According to Coss, jurors asked for an example and definition of substantial risk to the health and safety of the child in relation to child endangering. Child endangering, according to the court, is an element of the manslaughter charge.
At 7:30 p.m., the court assembled to answer another question from the jury. The jury asked the court if aggravated arson was off the table – meaning a not guilty verdict – that takes "murder off the table," is involuntary manslaughter off the table as well? The court responded by saying "no," and referred the jury back to the jury instructions.
Check back to www.highlandcountypress.com and the HCP Facebook for more updates.[[In-content Ad]]
The court assembled Monday morning in Pickaway County Common Pleas Court, during which the judge met in chambers with defense council and prosecution to discuss a question posed by the jury Friday night. When the court reassembled at approximately 10 a.m. Monday, Coss noted that the discussions that took place in chambers were on the record with the court reporter, but he did not state from the bench what the matter was regarding; he only noted that it was "a matter of law."
In speaking to the jury, Coss said that all notes from Friday's deliberation were to be sealed in an envelope and collected by the court. He told the jury to proceed "as if nothing happened Friday."
After the judge released the jurors to deliberate, he declined to answer questions regarding what led to the juror's dismissal.
This is the sixth day of the trial for Coonrod. Deliberations began Friday, and jurors deliberated for approximately six hours before being dismissed for the weekend.
At 8:55 p.m. Friday, the court received a request to adjourn for the evening as well as an additional note from the jury. Upon reading the note, Judge Rocky Coss asked to see the attorneys in chambers. When the court reassembled, the note was not read on the record. Coss dismissed the jury for the weekend and told the jury foreperson to report back Monday at 8:30 a.m. and the rest of the jury to report back at 9 a.m., when deliberations will continue.
Coss told the foreperson, "We will address the issue at that time." When court was dismissed, Coss told the Highland County Press that the note would be read on the record at some point, but he wanted to take the time to research the issue further before making any decisions.
Coonrod, 43, of Greenfield, was found guilty in October in Highland County Common Pleas Court on two counts of felony endangering children. He had faced aggravated murder charges with death penalty specifications stemming from a March fire in his apartment on Lafayette Street in Greenfield, during which his sons Thomas, 4, and Stephen, 3, were killed. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the aggravated murder charges, two charges of murder with lesser charges of manslaughter and reckless homicide, and aggravated arson. The state will not seek to retry him on the aggravated murder charges, so he is no longer facing the death penalty. The jury will also consider a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. The trial was moved to Pickaway County in so that a jury could be more easily seated than in Highland County.
At approximately 7:20 p.m., the court assembled to address a question from the jury. According to Coss, jurors asked for an example and definition of substantial risk to the health and safety of the child in relation to child endangering. Child endangering, according to the court, is an element of the manslaughter charge.
At 7:30 p.m., the court assembled to answer another question from the jury. The jury asked the court if aggravated arson was off the table – meaning a not guilty verdict – that takes "murder off the table," is involuntary manslaughter off the table as well? The court responded by saying "no," and referred the jury back to the jury instructions.
Check back to www.highlandcountypress.com and the HCP Facebook for more updates.[[In-content Ad]]