Crime & Public Safety

Eight more jurors qualified in Ross Harris trial

By Christian Boone
April 18, 2016

The latest: Eight more prospective jurors were qualified to serve, bringing the total to 16. Five out of 13 reviewed Monday were struck for cause; Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley denied one strike request by each side.

The charges: Ross Harris, accused of intentionally leaving his son inside a hot car to die, is indicted for malice murder, two counts of felony murder, cruelty to children in the first and second degree, criminal attempt to commit a felony and dissemination of harmful materials to minors.

The tally: At least 32 jurors are needed — 12 jurors, two alternates and nine "peremptory" challenges afforded to each side. Legal observers say it's likely Staley will want additional alternates due to the high-profile nature of the case.

Quote of the day: "That's why I'm single," said Juror 22, testifying about his consumption of online porn. That same juror, who was qualified over the objection of the state, said he can detect when someone is lying or not. "It's a blessing and a curse," he said.

Juror misconduct? Juror 22 also testified he overheard another prospective juror opine that Harris was guilty while completing a questionnaire last week. Although a clear violation of the court's instructions not to "consult, confer or talk with any other person" while completing the questionnaire, the allegation wasn't addressed in court.

What's next: Jury selection continues on Tuesday and is expected to last through this week and likely the next.

For continuous updates of the Ross Harris trial, follow @ReporterJCB on Twitter.

About the Author

A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.

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