Local News in Brief : 2 Jurors Dismissed in Death-Penalty Trial
Two jurors were dismissed Thursday from a death-penalty trial in Van Nuys Superior Court because they saw news reports that the defendant, convicted of killing an off-duty policeman, had threatened to kill the prosecutor and several witnesses.
Judge Judith M. Ashmann took the action after questioning jurors sitting in the death-penalty phase of the trial of Daniel S. Jenkins. Two jurors told Ashmann they were aware of reports Wednesday that police had obtained permission to search for a purported “death list” compiled by Jenkins, said Howard R. Price, who represented Jenkins at the trial.
Jenkins, 33, was convicted July 27 of shooting to death Detective Thomas C. Williams, who had testified against him at a robbery trial in 1985. Jenkins was also convicted of attempting to kill George Carpenter, the robbery victim, to prevent him from testifying at the robbery trial.
The jurors were replaced by alternates. The jury is deliberating whether to recommend a sentence of death or life without parole.
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