Jan 8, 2008 11:24 am US/Eastern
Jury Selection Continues In Prison Guard Slaying
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ) ―
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Prosecutors contend 22-year-old Brandon Morris shot and killed officer Jeffery Wroten as part of a premeditated escape plan.
WJZ
Jury selection continues in Ellicott City in the first-degree murder trial of a state prison inmate charged with killing a correctional officer during his escape from a hospital in Hagerstown nearly two years ago.
Opening statements could begin as soon as Thursday.
Mike Hellgren details the extraordinary safety measures in place.
Police say Brandon Morris tried to escape custody twice. The first time was in January 2006. He's accused of murdering an officer while he was being treated at a hospital. The second was in the courtroom about seven months ago as that murder trial was just beginning.
Deputy State's Attorney Joseph Michael says 34 of 66 prospective jurors who were questioned individually on Monday qualified for the next round of the selection process.
Now, Morris' hands are shackled, but hidden. Potential jurors will hear nothing of that escape attempt in Howard County.
Brandon Morris is always accompanied by sheriff's deputies. At least eight are guarding him in the courtroom. One of those controls a stun belt that could shock Morris into submission instantly.
"What the judge is doing is exactly what the law requires," said Morris' lawyer Arcangelo Tuminelli.
In court, Morris wears a suit. His hands are unrestrained to comply with the law not to prejudice jurors. An earpiece allows Morris to hear his attorneys when they head to the judge's bench.
"It may take a greater number of jurors, but we will get a fair panel for Mr. Morris," said Michael.
The security cracked down after Morris tried to escape the courtroom last May, injuring jurors and sheriff's deputies. The judge ruled at his new trial jurors will never hear of that attempt.
Morris was originally in court for an escape at Washington County Hospital that turned deadly. Police say he killed Officer Jeffery Wroten then carjacked a cab from a driver.
"He had a gun and pointed it at my head and told me to drive," the driver said.
The case bears striking similarities to an escape last week at Laurel General Hospital. That's when an inmate being treated overpowered officers and committed a carjacking before police shot him dead.
It's so striking, that In Morris' case the judge is asking jurors if they heard about the Laurel escape and whether it impacts their impartiality.
"Clearly, given the nature of this case, it's a concern that potential jurors heard that, and that could somehow bias them," said Tuminelli.
Jury selection should wrap up Wednesday. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Deputies' eyes are constantly on Morris. They have reminded his attorneys not to leave pens near him because his hands are not restrained.
The case was moved from Washington County to Howard County because of the publicity.
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