Local

Kerrick Trial - Day 3 - July 22

By Mark Becker, wsoctv.com
By Mark Becker, wsoctv.com

What to know:

  • Randall "Wes" Kerrick is accused of shooting and killing unarmed Jonathan Ferrell in September 2013.
  • Jury selection could take weeks with 1,900 potential jurors. 1,019 are expected the first week; 880 are expected the next.
  • Dash cam video will be released during the trial.

Trial Archive:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Officer Randall Wes Kerrick is charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of unarmed black man Jonathan Ferrell.

5:38 p.m. update: Judge Robert Ervin banned all tweeting from the courtroom and warned the media that he may not allow cameras in once testimony begins in the case after several potential jurors expressed concerns about publicity.

One woman on the panel told the judge that she and another potential juror had talked at lunch about tweets that had included the other woman’s profession—enough information that someone might be able to identify her.

The judge questioned two others, including a man who said he learned about tweets that described his business and told the judge, “It’s downright scary.”

Judge Ervin excused that juror and warned the media that they must be responsible with information they release.

Among those in the courtroom were the mother and brother of Jonathan Ferrell—the man Officer Kerrick admits shooting.

Willie Ferrell said he and his family are putting it all in God’s hands.

“We will continue to pray for everybody in the city of Charlotte.  Pray for officer Kerrick, pray for his family, and please continue to pray for us because we know receiving the prayers will lift us up, thank you,” he said.

5 p.m. update: Attorneys got back to the process of selecting the 12 people who will be jurors in the trial.

Attorneys questioned the jurors in front of other prospective jurors. Questions were mostly about their backgrounds and whether they’d be able to spend the time to hear the evidence against Kerrick.

Attorney Tony Scheer said the question of time could knock some potential jurors out of the trial.

“If the trial presumably goes on for a month or more, and I think that's probably a fair estimate, there will be people who really can't serve, who really can't take that time out,” Scheer said.

12:05 p.m. update:  Channel 9 found out how Kerrick and his attorney are coming in to the courthouse.

Eyewitness News could see one of Kerrick's attorneys in the front seat of a black minivan pulling into the secure parking deck reserved for judges and court officials.

Channel 9 did not see Kerrick but believe he was in the backseat since that van only stayed a matter of moments before it left again.

In court, prosecutors spent Wednesday morning questioning potential jurors. This time they were together and the questions were a lot more routine including questions about their backgrounds and what experiences they may have had in court or with police.

https://twitter.com/MarkBeckerWSOC9/status/623881745377718272

Channel 9’s legal analyst said that fact the trial could drag on for weeks will make it tough to find a jury.

"If the trial presumably goes on for a month or more, and I think that's probably a fair estimate, there will be people who really can't serve. You really can't take that time out," attorney Tony Scheer said.

Follow Mark Becker on Twitter for live updates.

10:53 a.m. update: Fewer people in court today. Kerick's wife is in the court room and there are a few people sitting on the Ferrell side but not the crowds that were seen earlier in the week.

10:31 a.m. update: Reporter Mark Becker said he saw Kerrick's attorney arriving at a secure entrance designated for judges in a black SUV with tinted windows just after 9 a.m. He couldn't see Kerrick, but believes he was inside.

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9:07 a.m. update: Attorneys will question more potential jurors Wednesday in a CMPD officer's voluntary manslaughter trial -- and they're using a unique method.

Officer Randall “Wes” Kerrick is on trial for shooting and killing unarmed Jonathan Ferrell in 2013. On Tuesday, Kerrick's attorneys questioned potential jurors one by one about their responses to a questionnaire they filled out.

That's something usually only done during a death penalty case.

Channel 9’s legal analyst said they're doing it now because Kerrick's case has drawn so much publicity and racial tensions.

Kerrick's attorneys wrote an email after they said the Ferrell family's attorney distorted the truth to influence public opinion and taint the jury pool.

The Ferrells said Jonathan was on his knees when Kerrick shot him, but in the email Kerrick's attorneys claimed Ferrell was on top of the officer, trying to take his weapon.

The NAACP is calling for Kerrick to have to walk into court from outside each day, like other defendants. They said Kerrick is getting special treatment, but the sheriff's office has said he needs to go through a hidden entrance as a security matter.

Randall "Wes" Kerrick is accused of shooting and killing unarmed Jonathan Ferrell on Sept. 14, 2013.

Three officers were called to the 7500 block of Reedy Creek Road in east Mecklenburg County around 2:30 that morning. A woman told police Ferrell was banging on her front door.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said Ferrell ran toward the officers when they arrived. One of the officers deployed his Taser, but it was unsuccessful. Kerrick fired his weapon 12 times at close range. Ten of the shots hit Ferrell, killing him.

Police later discovered a wrecked car that Ferrell was driving about 500 yards away. Officers say Ferrell was unarmed.

Around 9:30 p.m. Sept. 14, 2013, Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter, marking the first time an officer in Charlotte had been charged with manslaughter for actions on duty.

Kerrick was released from jail on a $50,000 bond. He remains suspended without pay from CMPD.

Ferrell, a former football player at Florida A&M University, was living in Charlotte with his fiancée. A toxicology report released in November showed Ferrell had 60 mg/dl of ethanol in his system, equal to a .06 if blown during a DWI check point. The legal limit in North Carolina is .08.

The Ferrell family filed a civil suit against the city, county, CMPD and former Police Chief Rodney Monroe on Jan. 14, 2014. The suit was settled in May 2015 for $2.25 million.

George Laughrun and Michael J. Greene will represent Kerrick. His attorneys were hired by the Fraternal Order of Police.

Recent stories:

Channel 9 will have a team of reporters covering the Kerrick trial each day. Follow @wsoctv on Twitter for continuous updates.

Twitter handles for reporters who will be covering the trial:

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