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By Phil Trexler
POSTED: 04:54 p.m. EST, Nov 16, 2007
Beacon Journal staff writer
Attorneys for Bobby Cutts Jr. were again denied their request to expand a jury pool to include licensed drivers and potentially more blacks.
Lawyers for Cutts, a Canton patrolman accused of killing his pregnant lover last June, argued at a hearing today that expanding the list would help create a more racially diverse panel.
A similar motion was denied late last summer. But the defense motion was renewed this month after blacks comprised just three of 116 potential jurors called to the trial of Cutts' co-defendant, Myisha Ferrell.
Ferrell, 30, pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and abuse of a corpse for her role in the disappearance and death of Jessie Marie Davis, 26, of Lake Township. She has agreed to testify against Cutts and could be freed from prison in a year.
Stark County Common Pleas Judge Charles Brown denied the jury pool expansion motion for a second time. He told attorneys that the current system of obtaining jurors from registered voter rolls does not exclude blacks or other minorities. He also said that studies have shown that using licensed drivers has not proven to be an effective way to include more minorities.
Cutts' attorneys, Fernando Mack and Myron Watson, said Cutts has received threatening letters with racial overtones since his arrest. In addition, racist fliers were circulated around downtown Canton after Cutts' arrest in June. Cutts is black; Davis was white.
Meanwhile, jury summonses to 800 Stark County voters will be mailed Dec. 3. Cutts is set to go on trial Feb. 4. He is charged with aggravated murder, burglary and abuse of a corpse. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed under a $5 million bond.
Cutts, 30, is accused of killing Davis, who was nine months pregnant, inside her home on June 14 and then disposing her body in a Summit County park.
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.
Beacon Journal staff writer
Attorneys for Bobby Cutts Jr. were again denied their request to expand a jury pool to include licensed drivers and potentially more blacks.
Lawyers for Cutts, a Canton patrolman accused of killing his pregnant lover last June, argued at a hearing today that expanding the list would help create a more racially diverse panel.
A similar motion was denied late last summer. But the defense motion was renewed this month after blacks comprised just three of 116 potential jurors called to the trial of Cutts' co-defendant, Myisha Ferrell.
Ferrell, 30, pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and abuse of a corpse for her role in the disappearance and death of Jessie Marie Davis, 26, of Lake Township. She has agreed to testify against Cutts and could be freed from prison in a year.
Stark County Common Pleas Judge Charles Brown denied the jury pool expansion motion for a second time. He told attorneys that the current system of obtaining jurors from registered voter rolls does not exclude blacks or other minorities. He also said that studies have shown that using licensed drivers has not proven to be an effective way to include more minorities.
Cutts' attorneys, Fernando Mack and Myron Watson, said Cutts has received threatening letters with racial overtones since his arrest. In addition, racist fliers were circulated around downtown Canton after Cutts' arrest in June. Cutts is black; Davis was white.
Meanwhile, jury summonses to 800 Stark County voters will be mailed Dec. 3. Cutts is set to go on trial Feb. 4. He is charged with aggravated murder, burglary and abuse of a corpse. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty and remains jailed under a $5 million bond.
Cutts, 30, is accused of killing Davis, who was nine months pregnant, inside her home on June 14 and then disposing her body in a Summit County park.
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.
