The Family Man by Michael S. Patterson

Author:Michael S. Patterson [Patterson, S. Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-59692-903-6
Publisher: M P Publishing Limited
Published: 2000-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 49

Jury selection in The People of The State of California v. Eric Scott Sommers began August 24. Eric sat stoically at the defense table next to Judge Richter and David Dreizler. Eric had requested David’s presence less for his legal expertise than for moral support. David sat next to Eric and placed his hand on Eric’s right shoulder, giving his friend reassurance they would do everything in their power to prove his innocence.

Judge Richter busily skimmed the answers to the juror questionnaires. Eric’s trial promised to be the highest profile murder trial in the Valley since the conviction of Lyle and Eric Menendez at the Van Nuys Superior Court.

Cheryl Delaney, who had escaped indictment but still faced the ugly ridicule of public opinion, sat quietly next to strangers. Cheryl was Eric’s entire cheering section. Ellen’s parents couldn’t face the media circus, and Stanley Delaney’s belief in his son-in-law’s innocence had faded significantly over the last month and a half. The reports in the media consistently painted a portrait of Eric as an abusive husband who had gone too far. Stanley started to believe the reports, despite no evidence to back them up.

Outside the courthouse there were groups of women who carried signs crying for “Justice for Ellen.” Eric had become the focus of the Anti-Domestic Violence movement. Unfortunately for Eric, there seemed no way to make them understand that he hadn’t done anything wrong. When he arrived at the courthouse a jeering crowd blocked the steps, holding signs portraying Eric as the latest villein in the domestic violence arena. Judge Richter used his girth to force Eric through the crowd and get him inside the courthouse safely. Eric had received several death threats in the days leading up to the trial and Judge Richter didn’t want to take any chances.

The prosecution’s team, now led by Deputy District Attorney Randall Pruitte, stood at the ready when Eric and his team entered the courtroom. Pruitte had been a prosecutor in Los Angeles County for close to twelve years. He had graduated first in his class from Southwestern University School of Law. Randall had handled over forty-five murder trials, had a ninety-six percent conviction rate and wore the badge of honor of getting two convictions without a body of the victim.

At Randall’s side stood brand new Assistant District Attorney Jillian Manning who had been a student in Eric’s Constitutional Law tutorial. Eric didn’t recognize her but had read she graduated from Loyola two years after he did. Her position in the case would be strictly secondary, and indeed it would surprise Eric if she ever opened her mouth to argue even the simplest motion.

The prosecution team also looked over the jurors’ responses to the questionnaire when Judge Franklin Colby took the bench. The bailiff stepped forward and earned his salary for the week by announcing that all should rise in the presence of the Honorable Franklin Colby. Judge Colby, who presided over Burbank, had a reputation as a stickler for scheduling, efficiency, and a minimum of courtroom theatrics.

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