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Shocker: D.A. Lobbies Unsequestered Jury for Death Penalty in Press
Posted on Tuesday, May 13 @ 07:13:54 EDT by jfbailey
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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. Commentary by S. Richard Blassberg, WPCNR Legal Affairs Correspondent. May 13, 2003: If information reported last week in The Journal News and on News 12 is accurate, the District Attorney has some serious questions to respond to.
WPCNR LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT
S. RICHARD BLASSBERG
Photo by WPCNR News
For one thing, does Mrs. Pirro not trust the jury, which last week delivered a verdict of First Degree Murder, to refrain from watching television and reading newspaper accounts dealing with the trial? After all, it was her prosecutors who joined the Defense in requesting that Judge Lange not keep the jury sequestered before the sentencing phase of the trial. The sentencing phase of the trial is scheduled to convene Wednesday.
Lobbying the Jury
If Mrs. Pirro trusts the jury, why then did her Office contact Norman Doblado, cousin of the murder victims, at his place of employment, following his statement to News 12 that he could accept a sentence of Life Imprisonment Without Possible Parole for Alvarez-Hernandez (as reported in The Journal News Friday)?
And furthermore, why was a statement by Javier Torres, brother and uncle of the victims, intended to reaffirm the family's desire for the Death Penalty, released the following day by Mrs. Pirro's Office?
Several Doing "Hard Time" Because of D.A.'s Playing to the Media
This is not the first time Mrs. Pirro has used the press and broadcast media to attempt to influence trial outcomes. Her manipulation of public sentiment before, during, and after major murder trials is legendary. The convictions of Anthony DeSimone in the Balancio Case, as well as Richard DiGuglielmo in the Campbell Case are but two conspicuous examples.
Of course she doesn't believe that the jury will remain pristine. She never has in the past.
Prosecutorial Misconduct Grounds Overlooked.
In more than nine years as District Attorney, Jeanine Pirro has not only known that she could engage in prosecutorial misconduct, but also appears to know that she would not be taken to task by the very instruments of her misdeeds, The Journal News and News 12.
Several people are doing "hard time" in state prison because of Mrs. Pirro's incestuous relationship with these supposed guardians of the public interest.
She Did It Again Last Week.
The release of Javier Torres' statement by the District Attorney's Office last week, was clearly an improper disclosure and threatens the fairness of the sentencing phase of the Alvarez-Hernandez trial. This prosecutorial misconduct, particularly in a Capital Punishment case, should expose the District Attorney to sanctions.
Note: WPCNR Commentary on the Alvarez-Hernandez Captial Punishment Murder Trial is written by S. Richard Blassberg, author of The Jeanine Machine, a documentation of District Attorney Jeanine Pirro's career as Westchester County District Attorney.
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