More jurors excused in Rivera case

If you're a potential juror in Reinaldo Rivera's capital murder trial, you should stop reading. Now.

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At the conclusion of a long day in Richmond County Superior Court that ended with almost as many potential jurors excused as deemed qualified, defense attorney Jacque Hawk quipped Thursday that potential jurors might be reading The Augusta Chronicle to discover how to get out of jury service.

Judge Albert M. Pickett said it does seem that, as the week has progressed with individual questioning of potential jurors, more have been excused. To qualify for the final juror selection, residents cannot have a fixed opinion on or reject outright one of three possible punishments if Mr. Rivera is convicted of murder - life in prison with or without the possibility of parole, or death.

The judge and attorneys think enough potential jurors will be qualified today to pave the way for the final selection Monday morning.

Mr. Rivera has pleaded innocent to 14 charges filed against him in the alleged sexual assaults of three women in Augusta and the slaying of one of them, Army Sgt. Marni Glista, 21.

On Thursday night, Mr. Rivera's lead attorney, Peter Johnson, said the defense team has agreed not to request sequestration of the jury for the duration of Mr. Rivera's trial, which is expected to last two to three weeks.

"The only thing I would ask is that we sit them down and give them a good talking to ..." about the rules not to discuss the case with anyone or listen to any media reports, Mr. Johnson said.

When a jury is sequestered, the members are kept apart from the community. Sheriff's officers arrange for all of their meals and lodging at a local hotel and stand guard to ensure no one can influence them.

Mr. Rivera, 40, was arrested after the nearly fatal attack on an Augusta teenager Oct. 10, 2000. He faces murder charges in Augusta, Columbia County and Aiken County in the deaths of Sgt. Glista on Sept. 9, 2000; Tabitha L. Bosdell on June 22, 2000; Tiffaney S. Wilson on Dec. 4, 1999; and Melissa Dingess on July 17, 1999.

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Friday, January 9, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle