A Florida decide has granted the protection crew’s movement for a mistrial within the Dwelling Depot homicide case due to an “unhinged juror.”
After greater than 5 hours of deliberations earlier this week, an Escambia County decide referred to as a mistrial for Shelia Agee, who’s accused of serving to her son kill the mom of his little one at a Pensacola Dwelling Depot retailer final 12 months.
“A specific juror has not handled this case throughout the proof with the seriousness that they need to have, that has apparently continued throughout deliberations,” Choose Coleman Robinson informed WKRG.
The issues reportedly started when juror Sallie Sue Smith was caught with a crossword puzzle throughout testimony, in line with WEAR Information 3.
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Keith Agee, 20, and his mom, Sheila, have been allegedly texting about his plans to kill Brooklyn Sims at The Dwelling Depot in Pensacola. (Escambia County Sheriff’s Workplace)
On Tuesday, Smith was discovered engaged on a crossword puzzle throughout witness testimony. The subsequent day, she was discovered utilizing one other crossword puzzle throughout deliberation.
Smith informed WEAR Information that the puzzle “helped her focus,” and denied any threatening conduct within the jury room.
“It was me,” Smith informed WEAR Information. “Nicely, I didn’t understand it was a foul factor. I do this once I focus and I’m listening. You couldn’t see the bench or witness stand very nicely trigger it was darkish. However I may hear it… That’s simply the way in which I do. I simply do this and I had no thought after which once they informed me I wasn’t presupposed to do it, I finished. After which, immediately, once I went into the jury room, I had one other crossword puzzle.”
Different jurors additionally later shared considerations about their security throughout deliberations with Choose Robinson.
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Sheila Agee, 50, is going through expenses within the taking pictures loss of life of 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims after allegedly serving to her son plan the assault. (Washington County Jail)
“It’s only a single piece of paper with a crossword puzzle printed on one facet and undecided what’s on the opposite facet,” mentioned Robinson. “…I can not ever recall a juror doing a crossword puzzle throughout a trial.”
Choose Robinson later questioned every juror, calling them in, one after the other, and requested in the event that they felt secure to proceed after considerations have been relayed to him by safety.
Practically 20 witnesses took the stand, whereas it took prosecutors lower than two days to relaxation their case in opposition to Agee. Nevertheless, because of the jury’s points, the trial was “hindered past restore.”
Smith did not say what her resolution was on a verdict, however denied any threatening conduct to WEAR Information.
“We retired to the jury room and began to deliberate,” Smith mentioned. “It grew to become apparent to me immediately that I used to be within the minority of 1 versus 11 different individuals… At first, it began out affordable. Numerous shouting, and I can shout, too.”
“I do have a loud voice, however I used to be being shouted down by lots of people,” Smith added.
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Keith Agee, 20, is charged with murder and aggravated battery within the taking pictures loss of life of 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims. (Escambia County Jail)
Agee, 51, was charged with principal to first-degree premeditated homicide after police found textual content messages allegedly displaying her assist plan the taking pictures loss of life of the mom of her son’s little one, 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims, who was additionally Sheila’s co-worker.
Her son, Keith Agee, 20, was arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Workplace in reference to the lethal Aug. 11, 2023 taking pictures of Sims.
“In response to textual content messages, it’s clear that Keith Agee’s mom, Sheila Agee, knew and took part within the plan to kill Brooklyn Sims. Moreover, textual content messages between mom and son spotlight the mom’s involvement in serving to find the sufferer,” the ECSO beforehand wrote on Fb.
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The division launched the alleged textual content messages between the mom and son on its Fb web page, claiming they passed off proper earlier than Sims was shot and killed.
“The homicide itself is unbelievable, however to know the mom knew about it and helped coordinate it’s incomprehensible,” Sheriff Chip Simmons mentioned beforehand through Fb.
The case is predicted to be again in courtroom on Feb. 5.
“One other jury must come again and take heed to the proof in entrance of one other jury the place hopefully, these sure members will observe frequent sense, will observe the regulation, will deal with their fellow jurors with decency and appropriateness. And can attain a verdict, no matter that could be, that could be a truthful and simply verdict for each side,” Robinson mentioned.
Fox Information Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report.