Florida: Jurors’ questions revealed evidence, insight in Pasco neo-Nazi trial
— murder case of Nazi John Ditullio
— St. Petersburg Times reports: “Ditullio had joined a small clan of American Nazis living in a single-wide mobile home in the Griffin Park area of west Pasco. On March 23, 2006, authorities say, Ditullio put on a gas mask, broke into the home of a next-door neighbor and stabbed two people. Patricia Wells, who suffered injuries to her face and arms, had an openly gay son and a black friend who visited. Kristofer King, a friend of Wells’ son who was also gay, died in the attack.”
— “In January 2008, changes adopted by the state Supreme Court gave jurors a more active role in trials. They are now allowed to take notes and, in all civil cases, question witnesses. With disagreement about the practice still lingering, it’s left to judges’ discretion in criminal cases.”
— “Circuit Judge Michael Andrews, who presided in Ditullio’s case, routinely allows it. He, prosecutor Mike Halkitis and Bjorn Brunvand, Ditullio’s lead attorney, huddled at the bench and read through more than 40 questions submitted by jurors to decide which could be asked.”
— “The jury ended up deadlocked after deliberating for almost 10 hours. Ten of the 12 voted for acquittal.”
— “Ditullio, 23, will be retried in March. The state is seeking the death penalty.”