Broken Doll by Burl Barer

Author:Burl Barer [Barer, Burl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2014-08-29T16:00:00+00:00

Part 3

TRIAL

Chapter 12

February 27, 1999

“In the coming weeks,” Judge Richard Thorpe told the over 150 potential jurors crowded into his Everett courtroom, “some of you may be asked to decide whether Mr. Clark should receive the death penalty.”

Each potential juror completed a fifteen-page questionnaire asking detailed information about their knowledge of the case, their families, education, and work experience. “One of the things we need to know,” Judge Thorpe explained, “is how much you know about the case and whether you’ve formed an idea or opinion about it.”

In preparation for the trial, over eight hundred county residents were summoned for jury duty. Many of those who did not show up in court on the February 27 were previously excused due to hardship.

“We expect to spend the next two to three weeks interviewing and screening the potential jurors, individually and in groups,” explained deputy prosecutor Ron Doersch. “Picking a jury is critical in a death penalty case,” added deputy prosecutor Jo Vanderlee. “It only takes one juror to stand between the defendant and a death sentence.”

The jury selection process launched with the sluggish speed and weary efficiency of Gutenburg’s printing press. By the end of the first day, six people had been questioned, and Judge Thorpe dismissed two potential jurors. “Once we hit our stride,” said Thorpe, “things may go more quickly.”

In the Portland laboratory of Dr. Ray Grimsbo, the progress was efficient and significant. “There were sleeping-bag cuttings that had been taken and then sent to me,” recalled Grimsbo. “The typing results obtained from the bloodstain from the sleeping bag were consistent with Roxanne Doll’s DNA type.” In fact, test results on the plethora of evidence items indicated DNA consistent with that of Roxanne Doll, and/or the bodily fluids of Richard M. Clark.

“It would be reasonable that the laundered item would have the weakest test results,” said Grimsbo. “If it was laundered, much of the material on there is going to be laundered away, leaving just enough to get weak results, that would be expected.”

Despite its degradation over time, or in the rinse cycle, test results indicated, in Grimsbo’s opinion, that Roxanne Doll’s blood was on Clark’s shirt, and these were equally valid as the results showing the child’s saliva on the socks allegedly stuffed into her mouth.

“It was amazing to me,” admitted Detective Herndon, “that Grimsbo got results from the shirt washed in bleach by Carol Clark. The bloodstain on that shirt, once tested, gave results that indicated that her DNA could not be excluded by any scientific process.”

The ongoing process of jury selection, however, excluded several individuals because of their strong feelings against the death penalty. Among those was Margaret Jobe, despite her clear statement that she could abide by the law and make the penalty decision. She did indicate, however, that she didn’t think that she could be fair to both sides, despite her best efforts to do so.

More definite in her stance was Jane Schwamberger, who opposed the death penalty for philosophical and religious reasons. “I

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