A Florida pass judgement on has granted the protection staff’s movement for a mistrial within the House Depot homicide case as a result of an “unhinged juror.”
After greater than 5 hours of deliberations previous this week, an Escambia County pass judgement on referred to as a mistrial for Shelia Agee, who’s accused of serving to her son kill the mummy of his kid at a Pensacola House Depot retailer final yr.
“A selected juror has no longer handled this example all over the proof with the seriousness that they must have, that has it sounds as if endured all over deliberations,” Pass judgement on Coleman Robinson advised WKRG.
The issues reportedly started when juror Sallie Sue Smith used to be stuck with a crossword puzzle all over testimony, in step with WEAR Information 3.
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On Tuesday, Smith used to be discovered running on a crossword puzzle all over witness testimony. The next day to come, she used to be discovered the usage of every other crossword puzzle all over deliberation.
Smith advised WEAR Information that the puzzle “helped her focal point,” and denied any threatening habits within the jury room.
“It used to be me,” Smith advised WEAR Information. “Smartly, I didn’t realize it used to be a foul factor. I do this once I listen and I’m listening. You couldn’t see the bench or witness stand rather well motive it used to be darkish. However I may pay attention it… That’s simply the way in which I do. I simply do this and I had no concept after which once they advised me I wasn’t intended to do it, I finished. After which, as of late, once I went into the jury room, I had every other crossword puzzle.”
Different jurors additionally later shared considerations about their protection all over deliberations with Pass judgement on Robinson.
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“It’s only a unmarried piece of paper with a crossword puzzle revealed on one aspect and no longer certain what is at the different aspect,” stated Robinson. “…I can’t ever recall a juror doing a crossword puzzle all over a tribulation.”
Pass judgement on Robinson later puzzled every juror, calling them in, one after the other, and requested in the event that they felt secure to proceed after considerations had been relayed to him through safety.
Just about 20 witnesses took the stand, whilst it took prosecutors lower than two days to leisure their case towards Agee. Alternatively, because of the jury’s problems, the trial used to be “hindered past restore.”
Smith did not say what her resolution used to be on a verdict, however denied any threatening habits to WEAR Information.
“We retired to the jury room and began to planned,” Smith stated. “It changed into glaring to me in an instant that I used to be within the minority of 1 as opposed to 11 folks… In the beginning, it began out affordable. Numerous shouting, and I will be able to shout, too.”
“I do have a noisy voice, however I used to be being shouted down through a large number of other people,” Smith added.
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Agee, 51, used to be charged with essential to first-degree premeditated homicide after police found out textual content messages allegedly appearing her lend a hand plan the capturing demise of the mummy of her son’s kid, 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims, who used to be additionally Sheila’s co-worker.
Her son, Keith Agee, 20, used to be arrested through the Escambia County Sheriff’s Place of business in reference to the fatal Aug. 11, 2023 capturing of Sims.
“In line with textual content messages, it’s transparent that Keith Agee’s mom, Sheila Agee, knew and took part within the plan to kill Brooklyn Sims. Moreover, textual content messages between mom and son spotlight the mummy’s involvement in serving to find the sufferer,” the ECSO prior to now wrote on Fb.
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The dep. launched the alleged textual content messages between the mummy and son on its Fb web page, claiming they happened proper ahead of Sims used to be shot and killed.
“The homicide itself is implausible, however to understand the mummy knew about it and helped coordinate it’s incomprehensible,” Sheriff Chip Simmons stated prior to now by the use of Fb.
The case is anticipated to be again in courtroom on Feb. 5.
“Some other jury must come again and pay attention to the proof in entrance of every other jury the place expectantly, the ones sure individuals will practice not unusual sense, will practice the legislation, will deal with their fellow jurors with decency and appropriateness. And can achieve a verdict, no matter that can be, that may be a honest and simply verdict for all sides,” Robinson stated.
Fox Information Virtual’s Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this file.