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Death penalty question rattles prospective jurors

By Joseph A. Slobodzian

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The lawyers and a Philadelphia judge today completed a third day of jury selection, getting the eighth of 12 jurors to hear the murder trial of a North Philadelphia man charged in the Oct. 31, 2007, shooting of police Officer Chuck Cassidy.

Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart, prosecution and defense lawyers have reviewed 200 prospective jurors since the selection process started Wednesday.

Minehart said jury selection will resume Monday with a new panel of 125 prospective jurors.

If the lawyers can find four additional jurors and six alternates, Minehart said, opening statements would be Thursday in what is expected to be a three-week trial.

The Criminal Justice Center and city courts are closed Wednesday for the Veterans Day holiday.

The jury selection process is protracted because of the difficulty assembling a panel of people willing to consider imposing the death penalty if they find John "Jordan" Lewis guilty of first-degree murder.

The problem is finding people willing to consider imposing the death penalty - but who are not predisposed for or against it.

Just confronting the death penalty question is too much for some prospective jurors. The lawyers actually selected two jurors today - for a total of nine - only to lose a female juror during the afternoon when she returned to the courthouse in tears.

Both sides agreed to excuse her. Minehart said in court that in a private meeting with him and the lawyers, the juror said she realized she could not handle the pressure of a capital case.

If the jurors find Lewis guilty of first-degree murder, they would begin a second proceeding to hear evidence of factors - aggravating aspects of the crime, and mitigating points in Lewis' background or personality - that they must weigh in deciding whether to sentence him to death.

Under Pennsylvania law, if the jury votes against a death sentence, or cannot decide, Lewis is automatically sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Lewis, 23, is charged with murder and six armed robberies. The last robbery - a Dunkin' Donuts shop on North Broad Street near 66th Avenue - was interrupted when Cassidy walked in the door.

Cassidy, 54, a veteran of 25 years with the city police force, was shot in the head and died the next day.

Contact Joseph A. Slobodzian at 215-854-2985 or jslobodzian@phillynews.com.

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Comments

Posted 04:50 PM, 11/06/2009

Rowland

The DA should just let this man plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. Even if a death sentence is imposed the family of Officer Cassidy will be living with the case for decades. See maureen Faulkner and Mumia Abu Jamal.

Comment removed.

Posted 05:26 PM, 11/06/2009

Big cushy

Fry him. We need the cell space.

Posted 05:30 PM, 11/06/2009

Blanketman

If the question is whether we should have a decades-long process of trying to get the death penalty or we have a quick plea to life, the officer's family would be better served by a life sentence.

Posted 05:30 PM, 11/06/2009

birds

Pennsylvania needs to do away with the death penalty now!!!! It costs significantly more than life sentences and it does not work. Overwhelming evidence shows it does nothing to deter crime. Taking away Lewis' freedom for his entire life is a harsher punishment than ending it quickly.

Posted 05:45 PM, 11/06/2009

furiouswon

& yet, when it's anything other than a cop getting killed the perps get out in under 20 years...

Posted 06:21 PM, 11/06/2009

Wassup!

The death penalty statute is a big joke. Give that animal a life sentence without the possibility of parole and turn him over to corrections. Justice will be served in other ways. Cop killers have a high mortality rate in our prisons.

Posted 06:24 PM, 11/06/2009

jacksplat

Hey, I VOLUNTEER! No problem, no issues! Of course, a death sentence in Pa. is absolutely meaningless.

Posted 06:43 PM, 11/06/2009

dee99999

Why are people so against the death penalty? Why should WE have to pay for a life incarceration of ANYONE, especially someone with NO regard for the lives of others... Even if it does nothing to deter crime, at least there will be one less getting "free" food, shelter, medical, cable, and anything else at our expense.

Posted 07:01 PM, 11/06/2009

beermoney

Your'e kidding me, right?? What time is jury selection Monday?? I'll volunteer and be there bright and early! I would have NO problem imposing a death penalty sentence on a cold blooded killer

Posted 07:03 PM, 11/06/2009

jacksplat

Death penalty in Pa is meaningless. Death in PA. means no less than 20 plus yrs, of mindless legal action..accomplishing nothing but enriching attorneys who would otherwise be unemployed. Representing Lifers is their career. And we the TAXPAYERS in PA, pay the millions of dollars. End result: give life sentences and let the attorneys actually go to work to make a living.

Posted 08:06 PM, 11/06/2009

KevSim

bird: What do you mean it doesn't work? I'm not aware of anyone executed coming back. It works just fine. As far as deterrent, who cares. It's punishment not a deterrent. You could say that any of our criminal penalties don't work since crimes are committed everyday. Should we just get rid of the penalties since as deterrents they obviously don't work. Finally if it wasn't for bleeding hearts like yourself the whole death penalty process would go faster and be alot cheaper. Since when doesn't a liberal like to spend money?

Posted 08:40 PM, 11/06/2009

Marchus

Abolish the death penalty. It is state sponsored killing. Killing the guilty is no different than killing the innocent. It is taking life. Really unbelievable in this day and age that this country still executes people. Very barbaric.

Posted 12:25 AM, 11/07/2009

MattPSU

I was a year old when Mumia shot officer Faulkner, yet he still toils in prison on appeals. There is effectively no death sentence in PA, let's face it.