By Alexandra Zayas, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, October 28, 2010
TAMPA — Defense attorneys for Kendrick Morris got permission Thursday morning to interview a juror who said he thought the jury foreman had outside information when they convicted Morris earlier this month of raping a young woman outside the Bloomingdale library.
In a court motion, Morris' public defenders cite comments that jury foreman Robin Richter made to the St. Petersburg Times after the trial, saying she knew Morris was "guilty as hell." And they cite an anonymous comment left by fellow juror James Wileman who said he believed more than one juror knew outside information about the case.
Attorneys are forbidden from contacting jurors after trials without a judge's permission. A tainted jury could lead a judge to order a new trial.
Wileman told the Times he has no proof that Richter had outside information about Morris during the trial. It's just his opinion.
Richter adamantly denies that. She said evidence introduced at the trial made it clear Morris was guilty. She said she would never have broken the rules, which exist to ensure an impartial jury. And she's angry that defense attorneys are insinuating otherwise.
Part of Wileman's suspicions stem from a comment Richter made to the Times. She stated that she was shocked to hear after the trial that Morris previously was convicted of raping a 62-year-old day care worker, a fact that never emerged during the Bloomingdale rape trial.
Richter clarified that a bailiff told her about Morris' previous trial as she was on her way to her car after the verdict after the jury was dismissed. The judge had even told the jurors they could do whatever searches they wanted and talk to whomever they'd like.
But Wileman said he walked with Richter and the other jurors all the way to the parking garage. A bailiff never discussed any previous cases, he said.
Morris' public defenders will argue two other motions: They want the judge to subpoena Richter's Facebook records and they want a new trial.
Alexandra Zayas can be reached at azayas@sptimes.com or (813) 310-2081.