Gothamist: Holdout Granny Juror

ed

Wed, 07 Apr 2004 23:10:52 -0500

Talmudic law

John

Fri, 02 Apr 2004 15:01:53 -0500

I think the juror was bought. It's not like the defendants couldn't afford to toss her a few million out of the almost 700 million dollars they "were entitled to". I feel bad about Martha. She lost several hundred million dollars over what, a couple hundred thousand in stock? And now she has to go to jail for lying about something that she was never even charged with.

Evan

Tue, 30 Mar 2004 06:11:33 -0500

I think she is a crazy old lady and if she was right in the head she wouldn't have flashed the okay sign. On the other hand though you shouldn't be publishing her name and I think if a conviction comes now it is very likely it will be over turned later. They need to call a misstrial and do it all over again. Sucks...

j.

Mon, 29 Mar 2004 13:36:44 -0500

The reason that this case is in state court rather than federal court is because -- from what I can see -- the charges are not securities fraud, but more along the lines of embezzlement. I don't know exactly what the counts are, though, so I can't tell for certain. As for the holdout granny -- after reading today's article in the Times about what the issue actually is, she appears to actually be the sole sane person. Or at least the sole one who has a grasp on what mens rea actually is, and the distinction between a mistake of law and a mistake of fact. The potshots against her in the tabloids were gratutitous. Look, as much as you might want to nail these people, it appears that the prosecution did a lousy job w/r/t intent.

Mase

Mon, 29 Mar 2004 11:48:22 -0500

my guess. The US Atty's declined prosecution. Just a guess though.

Sterling

Mon, 29 Mar 2004 10:57:28 -0500

You are correct - I just looked it up. What the hell is the Manhattan DA doing prosecuting this? And Morgy must be getting senile.

Mase

Sun, 28 Mar 2004 22:36:19 -0500

ugh. typo. should read "ummm, the trial IS a New York D.A. prosecution." sorry.

Mase

Sun, 28 Mar 2004 22:35:11 -0500

Sterling, ummm, isn't the trial IS a New York D.A. prosecution.

Kojak

Sun, 28 Mar 2004 18:12:38 -0500

Life has taught me old people are extremely stubborn and cannot be swayed once they have made a decision they believe in. The only thing to can do now is dismiss her from the jury for being unyielding and pigheaded, or declare a mistrial immediately.

Sterling

Sun, 28 Mar 2004 15:16:56 -0500

Why did the prosecution let this old crank on the jury? If she's so incredibly obstinate, as the Post suggests, it's hard to believe she could pass for a well-socialized person. BTW, this would never have happened if Tyco was a Manhattan DA prosecution - Morgy would have spotted her coming a mile away. The Colony Club refused membership to his mother - caused a big row in the day, and Eleanor Roosevelt quit in protest.