dsewell writes: “Elizabeth Kutchai, a member of the 2004 jury that convicted UVa student Andrew Alston of manslaughter in the stabbing death of Walker Sisk, has written an account of her experience as a juror published in the June 2005 issue of the Swarthmore College Bulletin (an alumni magazine). She is photographed carrying the issue of The Hook that ran the cover story The Verdict: Sisk’s Family Speaks Out; Kutchai’s thoughtful piece is an important supplement to the coverage and reaction that came out immediately following the verdict and three-year sentence.”
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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all you need is the money to have good lawyers nowadays, just ask Micheal Jackson and OJ
I found the article to be well written and quite explanatory. I was one of those community members feeling angry at the ‘lack of justice’ but this story helps remind me of my own time on a jury and our unliked decisions.
I’m most disturbed by the jury’s apparent conclusion that you can’t have “malice” if you’re drunk. The jurors seem to have fallen down the “it’s usual” rabbit hole. It’s usual to binge drink, start arguments once you’re drunk, carry a knife, pull it out and stab someone 18 times once drunk and arguing… Stuff and nonsense! This juror doesn’t say what “A, B, & C” was necessary to convict on 2nd degree murder and resorts to “you had to be there” to justify an obnoxious verdict. But she’s a Quaker and everybody meant well…
If you walk around the universe armed, you must walk around the universe prepared to kill — or be killed by that bigger person who takes your weapon away from you. If you decide to get drunk while you’re armed and can no longer differentiate between self-defense and murder that’s entirely your own volitional act and you’ve got to be held accountable for it.