Crime & Safety

Phone Call Gets Juror Dismissed From Trial

Juror in Easton homicide case says she's not sure she could be fair to man her ex-prison-guard husband told her he knew.

A juror serving in an Easton homicide trial found herself dismissed before testimony even started Monday after she mentioned the name of defendant during to her husband on the phone during lunch.

That's because her husband is a retired Northampton County corrections lieutenant who told her she should "be concerned" about the man on trial: Lawrence Gaines, accused of the fatal stabbing of William Thompson in July 2012.

She said her husband knew Gaines. Because of that, the juror told Judge Edward Smith she wasn't sure if she could be fair to Gaines.

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Assistant District Attorney Michele Kluck asked the juror what she based her concerns on.

"Twelve years of a husband getting home every day, sharing stories of his employment tends to make one more biased," the juror said.

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That was enough for Robert Sletvold, representing Gaines.

"We're past the point of 'Can she be fair?'" he said.

Judge Edward Smith dismissed the juror, and also brought in another who'd she'd shared lunch with following jury selection Monday morning.

This juror said she hadn't heard the phone conversation, and was allowed to stay.


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