Horrible!

[crimeshot1]

Jury selection begins in trial for man accused of killing baby

TESTIMONY IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THURSDAY.

Jury selection began Monday in Venango County Court for the trial of an Oil City man charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death of a 9-month-old baby in January 2003.

Three days have been allotted to pick 12 jurors and four alternates to hear testimony beginning Thursday morning before President Judge H. William White.

The trial stems from the death of Dawson T. Bishop, who along with his twin brother was in Gregory Rose's care on Jan. 24, 2003, the day Dawson died.

Rose, 27, of 113 Grant St., was charged after police responded to a call at 95 1/2 Spruce St., Rose's then-girlfriend's residence, around 2:45 p.m. that day. Police found the child motionless on the floor of the residence.

The baby was pronounced dead at UPMC Northwest a short time later.

According to a summarized version of the Erie County autopsy report, presented as evidence at a preliminary hearing Feb. 18, 2003, the child died from "blunt force trauma to the head."

Testimony is scheduled to begin Thursday and conclude June 15, with the possibility of deliberations going into June 16. Jurors will not hear testimony Saturday and Sunday.

Jurors will be sequestered during their lunch period, but they will be permitted to return home each evening.

Rose's attorney, Michael Hadley of Oil City, and assistant district attorney James Carbone, along with White, will question each potential juror individually. The practice, called individual voir dire, is rarely done in Venango County.

It is only done in the most serious of cases, according to White.

The attorneys questioned the potential jurors Monday on a variety of issues specifically related to the case.

Hadley asked jurors their thoughts on shaken baby syndrome, their experience with pediatrics and child abuse, and whether they believed a baby could be accidentally dropped from about waist high. Another question asked was if they felt there is ever an excuse to be angry with a baby.

Carbone's questions to potential jurors included if they knew anyone related to Rose, if they were willing to challenge an expert's opinion and if they could find a verdict without being impaired by the possibility that a heavy sentence could be imposed depending on their decision.

Numerous medical experts are scheduled to testify for both the prosecution and defense. Graphic autopsy photos will also be shown, White told potential jurors.

[CryingAnna]

This is just so sad. The babies touch us the most.

[tulane]

When is this going to stop??? It has gotten as commonplace as gang murders!

[Asphodel]

Every type of murder is commonplace, some just don't get publicly recognised as often because at that time that certain crime just wasn't talked about. Around this part of time, most everything is talked about so people are more likely to talk about more grisley cases. I think it's a matter of culture when it comes to publicity of this sort, because these same crimes happen every where else and always have happened. Just like how now people are more open about suicide... Just decades ago, that was something that no one talked about... Same with homosexuality. Same concept.

[CantShutUp]

Your right brazen there is nothing new under the sun. just much more media and means of communication these days.