The jury members who will decide the fate of Patrick McDowell -- who killed a Nassau County deputy in 2021 -- will come from Nassau County, Judge William Daniel decided Tuesday.
Patrick McDowellDaniel denied a defense motion for a change of venue but left the possibility open to move the case if they can’t find an impartial jury in Nassau County.In a hearing on the change of venue motion on Monday, the defense presented a survey that showed 85% of Nassau County residents recognized the case, which Daniel said in his ruling wasn’t a surprise, given the level of publicity.
But Daniel said what the survey doesn’t do is translate how many residents “are unwilling or unable to lay aside their impressions or opinions based upon any pretrial information and render a verdict based on the evidence presented in the courtroom.” Daniel pointed out that McDowell has pleaded guilty, so that’s not helpful in determining the impact of pretrial publicity.
Right now, the trial is set to start no later than April 4. The next status conference is on March 28.for McDowell will require a unanimous jury recommendation or the much lesser 8 to 4 standard. Florida’s current requirement is an 8-4 recommendation from the jury, but the rule when McDowell committed the crime was that all the jurors had to agree for a defendant to receive the death penalty.
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