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Wesson Family To Hear Verdict

ABC, USA
abclocal.go.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Thursday June 9, 2005

New developments in the Marcus Wesson trial Tuesday, as there were unexpected moves by both the prosecution and the judge in the trial.

Marcus Wesson was inside the courtroom Tuesday for a special hearing. All this, while jurors continued to have testimony from Sofina Solorio read back to them.

Tuesday, Judge R.L. Putnam released two Wesson relatives from court, while inviting other relatives back for the verdict.

In a brief hearing, prosecutor Lisa Gamoian requested Rosa Solorio, one of Wesson’s nieces who he had two children with, and Elizabeth Wesson, Marcus Wesson’s wife, be released from reappearing in court.

The judge approved, meaning the women will not be called back again by the prosecution.

Then, in a surprising reversal of his earlier decision not to allow Wesson family members in the courtroom for the verdict, the judge said after discussing it with the attorneys, he will allow family members in for the verdict.

The judge said they will be allowed under two strict conditions — if space is available and, in his direct words, “if they can control themselves.”

The judge is making sure emotional outbursts will not disrupt the jury’s decision on Marcus Wesson’s fate.

The judge had previously ordered the family members to remain outside of the courtroom for the verdict, because the could be potential witnesses if the trial goes into a penalty phase.

He gave no explanation for his change of mind.