[VA] Donna Blanton retrial for killing Trooper Sgt. husband

Mar 3, 2008
Virginia
Jury selection began Monday morning in the murder re-trial of a Caroline County woman. Donna Blanton is accused of killing her State Police sergeant husband in their home.

Donna Blanton was first accused of killing her husband, State Police Sgt. Taylor Blanton, in 2003. She was convicted and sentenced to 28 years in prison, but that guilty verdict was overturned last year after her lawyer successfully argued that the Commonwealth's Attorney was biased in his jury selection.

Another trial began in November, but a judge ruled that an impartial jury could not be found and the trial was moved to Virginia Beach.

Legal experts say that while a change of venue is not uncommon, it will be a disadvantage for both the prosecution and the defense.

"They like to be able to look at the jury pool and know what their experiences are, or know what shared experiences in the community represent - and neither side will have that here," said NBC12 legal analyst Steven Benjamin.

In hopes of avoiding the same issues of a biased jury selection, about 240 potential jurors have been summoned. The trial begins with jury selection today.

Blanton's trial is expected to last about eight days.

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Tags:

• police
• officer
• officer-involved
• law
• enforcement
• domestic
• violence
• deputy
• sheriff
• murder

[thegman00]

ROTT IN HELL YOU FAT SLUT !!!!