Testimony in the start of Billy Chemirmir’s second capital murder trial was delayed after a juror didn’t show up for court and another said he recognized a family member of one the women he is accused of killing.
Chemirmir’s first trial ended in a hung jury last year after that jury couldn’t reach a verdict.
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Another juror’s ability to fairly assess the case was questioned after he said he recognized a woman and her daughter in the hallway outside the courtroom. He correctly identified her as Shannon Dion. Dion’s mother, Doris Gleason, is not one of the women lawyers are allowed to discuss during the trial. This trial is regarding the death of Lu Thi Harris, 81, who was killed in 2018.
When the juror was questioned without other members of the jury present, the man said he could be fair and impartial and the acquaintance wouldn’t prevent him from acquitting if the state didn’t prove its case. Twelve jurors and two alternates were chosen last week.
The judge ruled that he would stay on the jury.
Police have said Chemirmir could be among Texas’ most prolific serial killers. Chemirmir quietly smothered elderly women, making their deaths look unsuspicious, while taking off with their jewelry, according to police and prosecutors in Dallas and Collin counties.
Chemirmir, who was arrested in March 2018, has been indicted on 18 counts of capital murder.
His first trial in the death of Harris ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked following about 11 hours of deliberations over two days. A lone juror held out, according to notes the jury sent to the judge.
The trial is expected to last a week.
If convicted, Chemirmir faces an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole because prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.
Chemirmir has maintained his innocence and told earlier this year that he is confident he will never be sent to prison.
