MN v. Kim Potter Trial Day 10 - Day 2 Jury Deliberations. Jury Question Number 2

TL;DR

During court deliberations, the jury can continue discussing the case with the goal of reaching an agreement, and exhibits can be removed from their boxes temporarily for examination.

Transcript

okay jeffy you can bring the jury out all right um members of the jury you uh submitted two questions for me uh the first question is if the jury cannot reach consensus what is the guidance around how long and what steps should be taken and your answer the answer is i'm going to re-read to you an instruction that i previously gave you you should di... Read More

Key Insights

• 💼 The jury is encouraged to continue discussing the case and considering different viewpoints to reach an agreement.
• 🤐 Zip ties can be temporarily removed from exhibit guns for examination, but they must be securely fastened again afterward.
• 🤨 The objections raised by the defense regarding rereading instructions and removing the gun from its case were overruled.
• ⁉️ The court followed an instruction from State vs. Martin and the ABA standard for addressing the jury's questions.
• 👍 The process of rereading the instruction and handling the gun in the deliberation room is deemed appropriate and approved.
• 🧑‍⚖️ The judge's emphasis on one paragraph of the instruction did not prejudice the jury's decision-making.
• 🍵 The court assured that the jurors would not receive any discussion of the case from the deputy handling the gun.

Questions & Answers

Q: What should the jury do if they cannot reach a consensus?

The jury should discuss the case with each other, considering different viewpoints and re-examining their own opinions, without surrendering honest judgments merely for the sake of reaching a verdict.

Q: Can the zip ties be removed from an exhibit gun for examination?

Yes, the zip ties can be removed temporarily for examination purposes. However, after use, the gun should be handed back to the deputy and securely fastened with zip ties again.

Q: Why did the defense object to rereading the instruction?

The defense objected because the instruction was already included in the initial jury instructions, and they believed it emphasized one paragraph excessively, potentially influencing the jury's decision-making.

Q: What was the court's rationale for allowing the removal of zip ties from the gun?

The court believed it was safe to remove the zip ties, as there was no ammunition present, and a lock prevented the gun from firing. The zip ties were simply used to secure the gun to the exhibit box.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The jury's first question is about what to do if they cannot reach a consensus, and the instruction is to continue discussing the case and considering each other's views without surrendering honest opinions.

• The second question is about removing zip ties from an exhibit gun for examination, and the answer is yes, but the gun should be handed back to the deputy and secured again with zip ties after use.

• The objections from the defense regarding rereading instructions and removing the gun from its case are overruled.