From Deseret News archives:
Jurors: Girl's age was crucial to decision in Jeffs trial
- Page:
- < Previous
- 1
- 2
"We talked about it, whether there was an actual rape," said juror Ben Coulter, 26, who works in retail sales. "But it was her age. She was 14."
Jeffs, he said, was "the only one who could have released her (Elissa Wall) from the marriage."
Jury foreman David Finch said the jury thought Steed "contradicted himself several times on the stand" when it came to the timeline of events.
The first rape occurred between April 23, 2001, when Steed and Wall were married, and May 12, 2001, when the couple took a trip to Canada. The second count occurred sometime between May 13, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2003.
Juror Diedre Shaw, 32, a housewife and mother of four, said the group talked about whether there could be an accomplice to rape if there wasn't a rape. Other adults in Wall's life also did nothing to stop the marriage. Wall testified she never told anyone she was being raped.
"We talked about Allen Steed, her mother, her sisters and the fact that she (Elissa Wall) said she 'sugared up' to Allen eventually," Shaw said. "But they weren't on trial."
Three jurors said they were "inclined toward innocent on at least one of the counts" when they began deliberating Friday. On Monday afternoon, the jury informed Judge James Shumate they were deadlocked on one count, which prompted the judge to ask them to continue their discussions.
The jury was released for the night at 8 p.m. on Monday after telling the judge they were close to a verdict on both counts.
By Tuesday morning, a female juror was excused for an undisclosed reason. That dismissed juror, Andrea Powers Harold, told KSL-TV that a fierce argument broke out between her and another juror over what she called "misinterpreted words." An alternate juror, Rachel Karimi, 28, a mother with young children, was seated on the jury. Shumate instructed them that they were a "new panel." Less than three hours later, the jury returned with a guilty verdict.
E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com
- Page:
- < Previous
- 1
- 2
Recent comments
This country has gone crazy.
Reading or quoting a passage of...
Someone | Sept. 27, 2007 at 7:28 p.m.
Oh, wait
because he's the hero who raped? her and didn't
have an...
Anyone | Sept. 27, 2007 at 6:42 p.m.
The jury makes no reference to discussing what has been PROVEN to...
Anyone | Sept. 27, 2007 at 6:35 p.m.
- U.S. gets favorable World Cup draw 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Iran up to old tricks 12:18 a.m.
- Editorial: Sen. Paula Hawkins 12:18 a.m.
- The winners and the losers 12:16 a.m.
- UVU campus briefs 12:16 a.m.
- Kind words better than card 12:16 a.m.
- Brace yourselves for care reform 12:16 a.m.
- Letters: Shouting side effects? 12:15 a.m.
- Letters: Applaud 'green people' 12:15 a.m.
- Letters: Fundamentalist dogma 12:15 a.m.
- Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- 5A high school football All-State
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Nutty Putty Cave to be sealed today
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
410 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
294 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
237 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
189 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
184 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
118 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
118 - Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
104
Trolley Square's annual Holiday Open House will feature visits with...
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
For those who keep saying there are other places where you can go "to...
Boozer is just doing and showing what he has always had, Talent! As long as...
Condolences to the LeBaron family! He was the mission Pres in South Africa...
I've enjoyed reading Dick Harmon's articles through the years. An enduring...
I think we have found our stride. But we need to bring in one more player to...
to make a move until nearer the deadline. You can't get the best player until...
"If this team had an interior Defense for 48 minutes they would contend. "...
What have you done for me lately, Boozer? Well, lately Boozer has been...
So the profs want us to all fall in line with them, instead! Got it....
Is Jake Dastrup the hottest thing going at SLCC? That boy can shoot the ball...



