Corruption at Joel Moyers' Trial

It seems that the list of oddities related to the Limestone County capital murder trial of Belle Mina man Joel Moyers just keeps growing and growing. Now a juror has come forward reporting that the case was discussed outside the jury room and he felt coerced into voting guilty. What does the county prosecutor say?

Brian Jones says it's smoke and mirrors. What might not be smoke and mirrors is that Jones and company insisted on the judge making rulings on issues while Moyers was too ill to attend the proceedings. A defendant in a capital murder case (or any other murder trial as far as we know) is allowed to be present at all proceedings if he so wishes.

From the Athens News Courier:

In his affidavit, Gilliam claims that after deliberation grew heated, jurors asked to break for lunch. He said five jurors, including the jury foreman, went to Zaxby’s restaurant. When they returned, one of the jurors sat next to Gilliam on a bench and told him: “Stay calm, we talked about it at lunch and we got a better plan maybe to help you out.”

He said he returned to the jury room angry and asked the other jurors, “So, what is y’all’s great scheme that y'all have come up with?” He said the other jurors could tell he was upset, so they backed away and didn’t explain what the plan was (to get him to vote for capital murder.) He said the five jurors admitted they had talked about it at lunch while at Zaxby’s.”

The above are just two of the new issues brought to light by Moyers' defense attorneys. The hearing will continue on September 1st. No matter what you may think of Moyers' guilt or innocence, remember that if the State of Alabama can strip him of his constitutional rights, they can strip you of yours.

Maybe even bus you to pick cotton...

*****

And that wonderful paragon of innocence Ronald Weems will one day have a parole hearing—our unfairly administrated laws a work. Weems' cohorts in crime, Laurel Pruett, Matthew Fox, and Ashley Greenhill will be completing their sentences in October. Yes, in less than two months.

Greenhill had already left the area before her arrest. Will she now return here? Pruett has a child here that was never officially permanently taken from her custody. She also has family in the Carolinas where things may now be looking better for her. Matthew Fox? His family lives here, and we assume he will be welcomed back at his old job, a horror-house grave digger. Remember? He was the one described as someone who knew how to dispose of bodies.

While we hope the three are now able to lead peaceful, productive lives, we hope that their reappearance will not be thrown in the face of Amanda Taylor's family.



Shoalanda