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Prospective juror in Couey case details threat

The 19-year-old says that a man he met at a store told him in a threatening way to find the defendant guilty.

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published July 15, 2006

More details emerged Friday about a prospective juror in the John Couey case who said he had been verbally threatened at a grocery store.

The 19-year-old man provided a brief account to a St. Petersburg Times reporter Thursday afternoon. He had provided more details earlier, during a private bench conference with the judge and lawyers.

On Friday, a transcript was filed with the court clerk.

The prospective juror, identified only by his last name, Rivera, said a man he didn't know approached him at the store. The man had seen Rivera on TV as Rivera was walking into the Lake County courthouse.

"He told me to ... find him (Couey) guilty," Rivera said. "He just told me that he (Couey) doesn't deserve to go out."

Did this person threaten you? the judge asked.

"I felt like it, yes," Rivera said. "I just don't want him to end up coming to my house and finding where I live."

The judge and lawyers agreed that Rivera should be excused from service.

Before long, the judge released all prospective jurors, ruling that an impartial jury couldn't be seated in Lake in a timely fashion.

Because of intense media coverage, most prospective jurors had heard about the case and about Couey's confession. Also, the jury selection process was time-consuming, and scheduling was becoming a problem. Some expert witnesses for the defense were going to be unavailable if the trial lasted too long.

The court postponed the trial and will try seating a jury in another Florida county later this year. Details of where and when are still being worked out.

The judge and lawyers held several private bench conferences with prospective jurors on Thursday. Transcripts of some or possibly all of those conferences are scheduled to be released Monday.

Couey, 47, is accused of kidnapping, raping and killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford last year. The state is seeking the death penalty.

[Last modified July 14, 2006, 22:12:03]