POUGHKEEPSIE – The trial of accused murderer Paul Senecal resumed late Tuesday morning after a slow start due to two issues with the jury. Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin was made aware of the issues early on Tuesday and met with the prosecutors and defense team to determine a course of action that all sides agreed upon.
The first issue involved an alternate juror who made the court aware that she had been in close proximity to someone on Sunday that tested positive for COVID on Monday. The juror was interviewed by Judge McLoughlin in the presence of the attorneys and the defendant at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The juror explained that she had spent a few hours with a friend on Sunday. On Monday, the juror’s friend called to say she had minor symptoms but her COVID rapid test had come back negative but the PCR returned with positive results. The judge asked the alternate if she was comfortable continuing in her role provided she wears a mask to protect the other jurors and alternates. The alternate agreed and was held in a separate room while every other juror and alternate were individually questioned by the judge. McLoughlin asked each one if they were comfortable with the alternate continuing, provided she wears a mask. Each juror indicated that they had no issue. One juror brought laughter to the courtroom when she answered the question, saying “Your honor, I am a school teacher so it really doesn’t matter to me.”
The second issue that required a brief interview with each juror and alternate was the result of an incident that occurred during the trial on Friday afternoon.
Apparently, during a break between testifying witnesses, one juror leaned forward and said something to a fellow juror. When the jury finished for the day and was outside of the courtroom, a third juror reprimanded the juror that spoke in the courtroom by saying something along the lines of “You can’t say things like that.” A fourth juror, who had no knowledge of the initial conversation in the courtroom sent a note to the judge telling of the exchange outside of court. McLoughlin on Tuesday brought the jurors and alternates into the courtroom, one at a time, to ask them if they had heard the exchange. Most jurors denied hearing the exchange. The judge also asked each juror if the conversation between the jurors on Friday would diminish their ability to remain fair and to only consider the evidence presented. All jurors indicated that the conversation would have no bearing on their ability to perform their duties as jurors. One juror explained his opinion in-depth, saying he didn’t hear jurors speaking in the courtroom because he was focused on the evidence that had just been presented.
After each of the jurors was interviewed on the two topics, the court took a brief recess before resuming around 11:00 a.m.
Prosecutors were expected to call two crime lab specialists to testify, followed by one of the doctors that performed the mental health evaluation of the defendant. Two separate evaluations of Senecal were conducted. After the first one, the three doctors were unable to come to a consensus. Coverage of the first competency hearing can be found here. When evaluators were presented with additional evidence of Senecal’s behavior in the Dutchess County Jail, all three doctors agreed that he was mentally competent to stand trial at the second competency hearing.
The prosecution was expected to finish the presentation of its case on Tuesday afternoon.
