‘What have I done?’ Juror in Broward murder case says anger, mistrust and accusations of racial bias led to hung jury, mistrial

South Florida Sun Sentinel ^ | December 10, 2021 | Rafael Olmeda

[karpov]

Dayonte Resiles killed Jill Halliburton Su by stabbing her to death and leaving her lifeless body in a bathtub in her Davie home — on that much, jurors could agree.

But they couldn’t agree on a murder charge, according to the jury forewoman, because three members refused to sign off on a verdict that would send a young Black man to prison for the rest of his life. For a short time, the nine who wanted a first-degree murder conviction were willing to budge. A manslaughter conviction would send Resiles to prison for 15 years, not for life. All 12 jurors signed off on manslaughter late Tuesday.

But that, according to the forewoman, would not have been justice. Not for her. Not for the defendant. Not for the victim. “What have I done?” she thought.

In an interview Thursday night, the forewoman, who asked not to be identified by name, shed light on what happened in the deliberation room in the days leading up to the hung jury and mistrial, describing a cauldron of anger, mistrust, betrayal and, underscoring it all, accusations of racial and anti-police bias.

It came to a head Tuesday night, when the manslaughter verdict was read, and the forewoman was faced with the usually-routine question of whether she agreed with the group’s decision.

Only a few seconds passed, but the forewoman’s mind was racing. She thought of the victim and the family left behind. She felt the eyes of the judge and the prosecutor and the victim’s husband boring into her. She was torn between her agreement with her fellow jurors and her firm belief that the prosecution proved Resiles guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt.

[DUMBGRUNT]

—”white lives don’t matter”

The other side of the blm coin.

[DiogenesLamp]

Of course it was. That’s the whole point of juries.

So secession is legal too if you do it by a jury?

I don't think ignoring constitutional law is a valid method of keeping a functional country.

[spacejunkie2001]

I’m grateful for this juror’s boldness to stand up for truth (even though it took a little longer than it should). Good for her. These blacks that only support skin color make me sick.

[SgtHooper]

Black man.

These scum never rise to the term “man”! At best they are “males”, but perhaps more apptly described as “scum”!

[Lurker]

I suggest you go back and read up on the history of jury nullification in this country.

L