Harris jury dismissed for day without reaching verdict
The jury in the hot-car murder trial on Tuesday were dismissed for the afternoon after deliberating almost three hours without reaching a verdict.
Judge Mary Staley Clark had already arranged to give the jury the afternoon off so they could cast their ballots on Election Day. They will return again Wednesday morning.
The jury sent a number of questions to the judge as they set about their deliberations.
For example, jurors asked if they could get a transcript of Harris’ interview with Cobb County Police Det. Phil Stoddard just a few hours after Harris pulled his dead son out of his SUV. Staley Clark would not provide the transcript but is going to allow the jury to watch the video of the interview when jurors return in the morning.
Throughout much of the morning, Harris sat at the defense table with his attorneys. He did not appear outwardly nervous and laughed several times during conversations with the lawyers.
About the Author
Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.
