A Florida decide has granted the protection workforce’s movement for a mistrial within the House Depot homicide case due to an “unhinged juror.”
After greater than 5 hours of deliberations earlier this week, an Escambia County decide known as a mistrial for Shelia Agee, who’s accused of serving to her son kill the mom of his youngster at a Pensacola House Depot retailer final 12 months.
“A specific juror has not handled this case in the course of the proof with the seriousness that they need to have, that has apparently continued throughout deliberations,” Choose Coleman Robinson instructed WKRG.
The issues reportedly started when juror Sallie Sue Smith was caught with a crossword puzzle throughout testimony, based on WEAR Information 3.
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Keith Agee, 20, and his mom, Sheila, have been allegedly texting about his plans to kill Brooklyn Sims at The House Depot in Pensacola. (Escambia County Sheriff’s Workplace)
On Tuesday, Smith was discovered engaged on a crossword puzzle throughout witness testimony. The subsequent day, she was discovered utilizing one other crossword puzzle throughout deliberation.
Smith instructed WEAR Information that the puzzle “helped her focus,” and denied any threatening conduct within the jury room.
“It was me,” Smith instructed WEAR Information. “Nicely, I didn’t comprehend it was a nasty factor. I try this once I focus and I’m listening. You couldn’t see the bench or witness stand very nicely trigger it was darkish. However I might hear it… That’s simply the way in which I do. I simply try this and I had no concept after which after they instructed me I wasn’t alleged to do it, I ended. After which, right now, once I went into the jury room, I had one other crossword puzzle.”
Different jurors additionally later shared considerations about their security throughout deliberations with Choose Robinson.
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Sheila Agee, 50, is dealing with costs within the capturing loss of life of 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims after allegedly serving to her son plan the assault. (Washington County Jail)
“It’s only a single piece of paper with a crossword puzzle printed on one facet and unsure what’s on the opposite facet,” stated Robinson. “…I can not ever recall a juror doing a crossword puzzle throughout a trial.”
Choose Robinson later questioned every juror, calling them in, one after the other, and requested in the event that they felt protected to proceed after considerations have been relayed to him by safety.
Practically 20 witnesses took the stand, whereas it took prosecutors lower than two days to relaxation their case in opposition to Agee. Nonetheless, as a result of jury’s points, the trial was “hindered past restore.”
Smith did not say what her resolution was on a verdict, however denied any threatening conduct to WEAR Information.
“We retired to the jury room and began to deliberate,” Smith stated. “It turned apparent to me immediately that I used to be within the minority of 1 versus 11 different individuals… At first, it began out cheap. A variety of shouting, and I can shout, too.”
“I do have a loud voice, however I used to be being shouted down by lots of people,” Smith added.
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Keith Agee, 20, is charged with murder and aggravated battery within the capturing loss of life of 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims. (Escambia County Jail)
Agee, 51, was charged with principal to first-degree premeditated homicide after police found textual content messages allegedly displaying her assist plan the capturing loss of life of the mom of her son’s youngster, 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims, who was additionally Sheila’s co-worker.
Her son, Keith Agee, 20, was arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Workplace in reference to the lethal Aug. 11, 2023 capturing of Sims.
“In response to textual content messages, it’s clear that Keith Agee’s mom, Sheila Agee, knew and took part within the plan to kill Brooklyn Sims. Moreover, textual content messages between mom and son spotlight the mom’s involvement in serving to find the sufferer,” the ECSO beforehand wrote on Fb.
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The division launched the alleged textual content messages between the mom and son on its Fb web page, claiming they happened proper earlier than Sims was shot and killed.
“The homicide itself is unbelievable, however to know the mom knew about it and helped coordinate it’s incomprehensible,” Sheriff Chip Simmons stated beforehand by way of Fb.
The case is predicted to be again in court docket on Feb. 5.
“One other jury must come again and take heed to the proof in entrance of one other jury the place hopefully, these sure members will comply with widespread sense, will comply with the legislation, will deal with their fellow jurors with decency and appropriateness. And can attain a verdict, no matter that could be, that could be a honest and simply verdict for each side,” Robinson stated.
Fox Information Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.
