Potential Juror's Excuse: Defendant Is Too Attractive

She is rejected from panel in Florida murder trial
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 3, 2017 12:15 PM CDT
Potential Juror's Excuse: Defendant Is Too Attractive
This photo provided by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office shows Adam Matos.   (AP Photo/Pasco County Sheriff's Office)

It was either a candid admission or a novel way of getting out of jury duty. A woman in Florida was ultimately rejected after she said she found the defendant in a murder trial so attractive that it might affect her judgment, reports LawNewz. Her admission came despite the grisly nature of the case: Adam Matos is accused of killing four people in Hudson three years ago: his ex-girlfriend, her new boyfriend, and her parents, reports Fox 13.

During a discussion about the jury panel, the judge raised the issue about the potential juror. "I'm more concerned about what she said yesterday about the defendant being 'attractive' and that causing her to be 'distracted' and that might cause bias," said Judge Mary Handsel. "Those statements are more concerning to me.” The woman didn't make the final cut. Jury selection was especially important because the prosecution plans to ask for the death penalty if Matos is convicted, notes the Tampa Bay Times, which has background on the case. (More juror stories.)

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