Nebraska Stations Causes Mistrial in Murder Case
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As a murder trail was just getting started, the judge in the case declared a mistrial because of a local TV station.
The AP reports the mistrial has been declared in a Kansas murder trial after a Nebraska television station aired footage of people in the jury pool.
Judge Preston Pratt on Tuesday put a stop to the trial of Bobby Tallent (pictured) after a station in Kearney, Nebraska, showed footage Monday night of people waiting to be questioned during jury selection. The station said on its website that it wouldn't have filmed or aired the video had it known potential jurors were in the hallway where its reporter received permission from court staff to stand.
The AP does not name the website, but it appears that they only station in Kearney, Nebraska is Sinclair owned KHGI.
"Due to the degree of prejudice resulting to the fair selection of an impartial jury it is not possible to continue and a mistrial is necessary," Pratt wrote in the order granting the motion for a mistrial.
A hearing is set for Nov. 2 to consider a motion for a change of venue and to set dates for a new trial.
