Miss-Delectable
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News for Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa
Murder suspect Daphne Wright was back in court Tuesday as the lawyers debated which questions they can ask potential jurors.
Because of so much publicity, potential jurors will have to fill out a written questionnaire before the January trial to eliminate those who've already formed opinions.
There are other challenges in giving Wright a fair trial.
At Wright's court hearings, the court reporter types out everything said onto a large screen for everyone to read, because Wright is deaf and so was murder victim Darlene VanderGiesen.
Another screen blocks Wright from the rest of the courtroom so that she can communicate in sign language with her lawyers.
With courtroom accommodations made, the next step is making sure she gets a fair jury.
Wright's lawyers predicted in past hearings that as many as 500 potential jurors may need to be on call, in part because of the grisly details of the case. And even more could be needed if the prosecution asks for the death penalty.
"They are going to have to consider lots of different potential bias by the jury pool," says former prosecutor Aaron McGowan.
He says lawyers from both sides will have to eliminate possible jurors with bias toward minorities and gays.
Wright's attorneys have said she's the only black deaf person in Sioux Falls.
And the fact that she is a lesbian will also likely be brought up during the trial. Police say Wright's motive for killing VanderGiesen was that she thought VanderGiesen was having an affair with Wright's girlfriend.
"I would say there are enough variables and factors in this case which really complicates the issues for both sides," McGowan says.
Before jurors are questioned on those issues, the lawyers will need to find people who know very little about what Wright is accused of doing.
That's why jury selection, and the pre-screening questionnaires that come before it, will likely be a lengthy process.
The jury questionnaire that both sides agreed on today had pretty basic questions. Lawyers will finish a second questionnaire by the end of the week. That second one will have more specific questions, including ones concerning jurors' opinions on the death penalty.
State's Attorney Dave Nelson has to tell the court by November 15th whether he plans to pursue the death penalty.
Murder suspect Daphne Wright was back in court Tuesday as the lawyers debated which questions they can ask potential jurors.
Because of so much publicity, potential jurors will have to fill out a written questionnaire before the January trial to eliminate those who've already formed opinions.
There are other challenges in giving Wright a fair trial.
At Wright's court hearings, the court reporter types out everything said onto a large screen for everyone to read, because Wright is deaf and so was murder victim Darlene VanderGiesen.
Another screen blocks Wright from the rest of the courtroom so that she can communicate in sign language with her lawyers.
With courtroom accommodations made, the next step is making sure she gets a fair jury.
Wright's lawyers predicted in past hearings that as many as 500 potential jurors may need to be on call, in part because of the grisly details of the case. And even more could be needed if the prosecution asks for the death penalty.
"They are going to have to consider lots of different potential bias by the jury pool," says former prosecutor Aaron McGowan.
He says lawyers from both sides will have to eliminate possible jurors with bias toward minorities and gays.
Wright's attorneys have said she's the only black deaf person in Sioux Falls.
And the fact that she is a lesbian will also likely be brought up during the trial. Police say Wright's motive for killing VanderGiesen was that she thought VanderGiesen was having an affair with Wright's girlfriend.
"I would say there are enough variables and factors in this case which really complicates the issues for both sides," McGowan says.
Before jurors are questioned on those issues, the lawyers will need to find people who know very little about what Wright is accused of doing.
That's why jury selection, and the pre-screening questionnaires that come before it, will likely be a lengthy process.
The jury questionnaire that both sides agreed on today had pretty basic questions. Lawyers will finish a second questionnaire by the end of the week. That second one will have more specific questions, including ones concerning jurors' opinions on the death penalty.
State's Attorney Dave Nelson has to tell the court by November 15th whether he plans to pursue the death penalty.