Prosecutors say Robinson filled a container with accelerant, took it to an upstairs bedroom, doused 50-year-old Brenda Scott with it and lit her on fire. He also is accused of hitting her in the face, knocking out teeth. Scott jumped out a window to escape, and later died of her injuries.
If convicted, Robinson faces the death penalty.
The trial of Brandon Davis will take place in Judge Kelly Heile’s courtroom, which is beside Spaeth’s on the third floor of the court wing.
Davis, 45, is charged with aggravated murder with additional specifications of a repeat violent offender and use of a gun in the crime as well as having weapons under disability and kidnapping for the June shooting death of Asiah Slone in Middletown.
Prosecutors allege Davis is complicit in the slaying of Slone, whose remains were found July 1 in a trash can on Centennial Street by women searching for her. She had been shot twice in the head.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Both judges have summoned a substantial pool of prospective jurors, which will create a challenge and some logistics shuffling, according to Clerk of Courts Mary Swain.
Summons for a total of 185 jurors went out — 60 for the Davis trial and 125 for the Robinson trial. Davis’ is slated for five days and Robinson’s for two weeks.
The Journal-News asked if there is a concern about enough people actually showing up.
“With our new system, the reporting is better than it was in the past. Just because they get a reminder by text or email,” Swain said.
In the fall of 2023, the office moved from a mail, paper-based system implemented in 1997 to a computer based system. The new system allows those chosen through the automated system to log in online, fill out jury questionnaires online and even upload documents for why they should be excused, such as a doctor’s note or proof they are no longer a resident of the county.
“With the new system they get reminders by text or email — that has been huge. We can contact them about any changes. We used it when had ‘snowmageddon’ (in January) ,” she said.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Judges agreed to stagger the time for the jury pools to report. Jurors in the Davis trial will not report until Monday afternoon and jury selection will be in the morning in the larger “super courtroom” for the Robinson trial.
Swain said jurors are asked to bring their summons with them so they can make sure they are part of the pool in the correct trial. Judges and attorneys will refer to their questionnaires and their juror numbers during voir dire, so they have to be in the correct courtroom.
The clerk of courts office will have staff on the second and first floors to help direct jurors.
“And we always let (the county administrator) know when we have high profile trial with a large amount of jurors so they have staff on had to help with the parking system.” Swain said.
When the jury is selected, it will be up to the bailiffs to keep them separated and away from spectators in the rotunda area.
“It doesn’t help that they are in the two smallest courtrooms,” Swain said. “But I have been around a while, I can remember five juries at one time.”
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