Six ask to be excused from Hill trial

Jury selection in death penalty trial of suspect in three DSS slayings is scheduled to begin Oct. 11

Web posted October 1, 1999

By Greg Rickabaugh
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN -- Six potential jurors in the death penalty trial of David Mark Hill took the stand in court Thursday, spelling out why they shouldn't have to serve on the jury.

David Mark Hill is charged with three counts of murder.

Circuit Judge Marc Westbrook excused three and told the others their work-related problems were not good enough reasons for them to be dismissed.

Mr. Hill is accused in the slayings of three South Carolina Department of Social Services caseworkers in September 1996. He is charged with three counts of murder, kidnapping, assault and battery with intent to kill, and possession of a pistol while committing a violent crime.

In court Thursday, one man wore his company's logo on a white T-shirt; he told the judge that his department has only two people and that both were needed. Another man -- dressed in overalls -- said he is self-employed in carpentry work, demolition jobs or whatever he can find to make money.

A woman wearing her nurse's outfit, said that she was the only nurse on her shift at a local hospital's emergency department and that the schedule was already set.

The judge denied each request, saying the law didn't cover the excuses. He ordered them to return for duty at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 11.

Judge Westbrook excused the other three, including one to care for her 89-year-old mother and another to care for a 7-year-old boy. A third woman will be transferred to another term of court because a planned vacation already has been paid for.

The hearing was one of many addressing jury selection. Last week, the judge excused about 50 jurors from a pool of 350, a majority because they are over 65 and are not required by law to serve. Others have been excused because they have medical problems.

Next week, Judge Westbrook will bring in more potential jurors to testify and will address their reasons for not wanting to serve.

The trial is expected to begin Oct. 11 with jury selection.

Reach Greg Rickabaugh at (803) 279-6895.