All five black potential jurors were dismissed from the trial in a surprisingly quick selection process on Tuesday, June 8.
Posts published in “Mehserle Trial”
The defense is now seeking to prevent the use of a synchronized compilation of videos of the shooting made by the prosecution at trial.
We recognize the significance of this historic trial: never before has a police officer been charged with a murder committed on duty in California.
The defense for Johannes Mehserle is trying to prevent former BART Police Officer Tony Pirone’s use of a racial slur shortly before the shooting from being brought up at trial, according to documents made public today by the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Jury selection in the second-degree murder trial of former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle, who shot unarmed passenger Oscar Grant on New Year’s Day 2009, began today amidst extraordinary steps to protect the privacy of jurors.
At a candlelight vigil in Downtown Oakland on the eve of jury selection in the second-degree murder trial of former BART Police officer Johannes Mehserle, supporters of shooting victim Oscar Grant said they were not happy about the direction the trial has taken so far.
Judge Robert Perry ruled that Grant family attorney John Burris is subject to the gag order covering trial participants, even though he is unlikely to be called as a witness in the trial.