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Juror in Scott Doll trial responds to verdict critics, discusses difficult deliberations

By Howard B. Owens

A juror in the Scott Doll murder trial contacted The Batavian today and after confirming the juror's identity, we agreed to anonymously publish this account of the juror's experience.

I just have a couple things to say about the Scott Doll trial. I was a  juror who sat in the front row. I would not like to give my name or my number as I am not trying to cause any problems with this statement, just  want to clear some things up, that have been on my mind since last Thursday.

I wanted to start off by saying that none of us in the jury chose to be in that box for the three weeks, we were chosen by both sides of the case as they felt we were the most impartial and non-biased individuals out of the pool they had to choose from. That being said, I would like to also tell everyone that none of us had preconceived notions as to the guilt or innocence of Mr. Doll. And for those of you who have comments such as "shame  on the Jury," you were not in that deliberation room discussing the facts/evidence so you have no idea what we went through.

No one but the 12 of us that were locked in that room for 12 hours knows what we discussed, and let me tell you there was quite a lot of discussion taking place. I do not like the fact that almost instantly people comment that we locked up an innocent man, that there is a "real" murderer on the streets. To you all, we all examined the evidence, and listened to all the testimonies. We all listened to the opinions and concerns that each of us had, and NO ONE was forced into making a guilty verdict when we took our  final vote.

We DID NOT rush things to get it over with. Anyone who had reservations on coming up with a verdict was allowed to voice their opinions. It all comes back to the evidence. Mr. Cambria told us to use our "common sense" when it came to deliberating on a verdict. We all felt that the evidence all pointed back to Mr. Doll, and to us that was "Common Sense" as that is what the evidence showed us. If there had been other evidence showing otherwise we would have considered it.

For the record, it's not the easiest thing to give a guilty verdict either. Knowing someone's life was in our hands weighed on our hearts and minds those final minutes of the trial. And it is definitely not easy to hear the cries and look at the faces of the family either, even when you know that the right thing was done according to the evidence that was presented to us. I'm sorry if that upsets some of you reading this, but trust me I have not nor will I ever forget this event. I have certainly not moved on with my life and left it behind. And I hope to never have to do something like this again.

My thoughts and prayers are with both the Doll family as well as the Benaquist family. I know that both families are now missing a member, and things will never be the same, and that is something that I will think about daily, for the rest of my life. If anyone thinks otherwise they are greatly mistaken.

Mike Weaver

Thank you for participating in the juror process and not weaseling out like so many are wont to do. It is a difficult chore but necessary if we are to have a society governed by rule of law. I wish more of our peers participated in the process instead of finding excuses to beg out or crafting something to say to avoid selection.

May 25, 2010, 10:12pm Permalink
George Richardson

I have served on two juries and changed a guilty to innocent in one and caused a mistrial in another. I totally ignore jury summons now. I've been called to grand jury once and twice for regular jury duty since then. They can go to hell, I did my duty to the best of my ability and they can go to hell from now on. No one knows the burden they lay on your shoulders unless you have been there, and I'm not going there again, ever.

May 26, 2010, 12:05am Permalink
George Richardson

I'm one of the people who said "shame on the jury", maybe the only one. I'm very sorry, I will never be in your shoes again. I would rather be locked up.

May 26, 2010, 12:17am Permalink
Onofrio A. Perzia

Thank you for performing your duty as an American citizen. You and your colleagues on that jury are more courageous then you realize, and have done your best there is nothing to be ashamed of or sorry about. I have been called to jury duty twice. Once, I was not needed after making a call to the telephone number given to report, the second time I was not chosen. You went in there with the two things every juror needs, an open mind and common sense. Thank you for your service.

May 26, 2010, 12:28am Permalink
Aric Doll

Scott wasn't the prime suspect in this case. He wasn't even a runner up in a group of suspects. He was the only suspect. There wasn't any evidence for anyone else. and as for Scott trying to blame his own son? his son has size 14 shoes, Scott has size 10. his defense lied about the entire circumstances of the case. Scott never did business on a Monday, the day before the auction. His defense lied about him even going there that Monday. I remember the day it happened. February 16th of last year was Presidents day. ADESA is closed on holidays. Why would he be going to a closed auction property to do non-existant car deals? The jury did the right thing. A man who blames his son for murder and then blatantly smuggles contraband into the jail system directly after his verdict deserves to be separated from mainstream society.. Thank you Lawrence Friedman.

May 26, 2010, 12:57am Permalink
Gary Spencer

Hey Paul,
Do you that as a fact or are you just speculating,because that was my thought too.....we'll have to wait and see that the toxi results are.

(wondering if this is the same Paul Cook who played drums for the Sex Pistols??)

May 26, 2010, 7:24am Permalink
Lisa Falkowski

Thank you to the brave juror who spoke out on this very difficult case. I realize that it was a very weighty decision for the 12 people in that jury box. Thank you for doing your civic duty. I hope that all of you can move on from here. Also, I, too, sympathize with BOTH families and understand that their lives will never be the same. I wish them well.

May 26, 2010, 8:44am Permalink
Paul Cook

I heard it was ground up hydrocodone so he could OD himself. I thought the person that told me this was getting this information from the paper. In retrospect their position could privy them to this information and I had just made an assumption of where it came from.

May 26, 2010, 9:17am Permalink

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