JEFFERSON COUNTY — The arson and murder trial in Jefferson County of 27-year-old Steven Murphy hit a snag Wednesday morning, and a juror was replaced, when it was discovered that juror and a family member of the alleged victim had been in contact.
(Source: MVPD)
The jury was recessed Wednesday morning as Judge Jerry Crisel, along with the prosecution and defense attorneys, reviewed courthouse surveillance video allegedly showing the contact between the juror and a relative of Tamara Malin.
Murphy, of Chicago, is accused of strangling Malin to death last year in her home and then setting the home on fire with her body inside.
It is unclear at this time what transpired between the two, but while the jury was recessed Judge Jerry Crisel admonished the gallery to not have contact with jurors, witnesses, or others participating in the trial to insure a fair trial.
He warned members of the gallery against violating that order, but had not yet taken any official action to dismiss the juror who was caught on tape.
The trial is expected to continue through Friday.