Mistrial declared in Calhoun County Kidnapping trial

Jason Patrick Norris

A Calhoun County judge declared a mistrial Tuesday in the case of an Anniston man charged in connection with the kidnapping of two women, and the rape and shooting of one of them in 2012.  , Calhoun County Circuit Judge Bud Turner said A problem with a potential juror on a panel resulted in his mistrial decision, but he declined to say what that problem was. Turner said a new jury is to be selected and the trial will start today.  The trial began Monday, with jurors hearing opening statements from defense attorneys and prosecutors in the case against 38 year old Jason Patrick Norris, of Anniston.  Norris was arrested Nov. 16, 2012, charged with kidnapping, robbery, rape and attempted murder. Prosecutors allege that on that day Norris ambushed his former girlfriend at her home near Cheaha Drive in Oxford, kidnapped her and a friend at gunpoint and forced them into his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle.  Oxford police alleged at the time that Norris then drove the women to an Oxford parking lot where he forced them into another vehicle that he had parked there earlier. The friend was able to escape the vehicle as they drove down Alabama 21.  Police believe Norris then drove his ex-girlfriend to a remote area in Clay County where he allegedly raped her twice and shot her in the neck, missing major organs and arteries. Numerous law enforcement agencies searched for Norris’ vehicle, finding it in the remote area where he was arrested.