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Family and friends of Joyce Garrard spent the day pleading
for her life as jurors consider whether she should die for the death of her
granddaughter.
Defense attorneys made allegations of juror misconduct
Wednesday and asked for a mistrial.
Garrard's attorneys alleged misconduct on the part of four
jurors.
Booting them from the panel would only leave 11 of 12
jurors, so attorney Dani Bone called for either dismissed charges, or a
mistrial.
Judge Billy Ogletree denied that motion, however, and only
one juror was dismissed. Her sister had reportedly died wednesday.
Garrard was convicted of capital murder last Friday in the
death of her granddaughter, Savannah Hardin.
Wednesday, jurors heard from family members as well as
friends who knew Garrard as far back as when she was 15 years old. They all
recall her being friendly, caring, giving and having a heart of gold, as well
as being a grandmother who loves her grandchildren.
But many of them also recalled Garrard's early "rough
life," which included daily wake-up beatings from her own live-in
grandmother, as well as abject poverty.
The day full of defense character witnesses wouldn't have
even gone that far if defense attorneys had their way. Dani Bone alleged
widespread juror misconduct, saying four jurors appeared to violate the judge's
orders about not reading news media, staying away from social media and
discussing the case with anyone else. Bone said it was so bad, he demanded the
case be dismissed or at least declared a mistrial. After a morning long
hearing, Judge Billy Ogletree apparently denied the motion. When the jury
returned only one was missing, and Ogletree explained that juror had just been
notified her sister had died.
Closing arguments are set for Thursday morning at 9 a.m.,
after which Judge Billy Ogletree will instruct the jury on how to apply the
capital murder law as it pertains to aggravating versus mitigating
circumstances. Ironically, Thursday is also Joyce Garrard's 50th birthday.
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