2008 Woodie Awards
Inquest results unclear
Jessica Rapp
Issue date: 8/17/08 Section: News
 The case dates back to May, when Gleason made a 911 call and told the dispatcher she had shot someone in her home and that she didn't know if he was alive or dead. Gleason and Johnson had a history of domestic violence that led Gleason to file a restraining order against Rogelio Johnson, said deputy fire chief Ray Jagger, who testified during the inquest.
This case is the first time that the Castle Doctrine, which states that a homeowner has the right to kill anyone who illegally enters his or her home, has been applied in Missouri. It is unclear as to whether the jurors fully understood the implications of the doctrine, Jagger said.
According to Sergeant of Highway Patrol Tom Rohn, Gleason's job with the sheriff's department prompted the highway patrol to perform the investigation at the scene and present evidence during the inquest.
The coroner said that to further avoid bias, he sought private council from a St. Louis lawyer Michael Flynn. Noe said a coroner's inquest has no boundaries that keep him from seeking advice. Under normal circumstances, the prosecuting attorney presents the evidence during the inquest in a way that is unbiased and purely factual. Noe said he thinks Williams had a conflict of interest in the case.
A concession between Noe and Williams allowed an additional lawyer to sit in on the trial and prompt Noe to ask the witnesses questions that he thought were necessary.
Emily Gleason, daughter of the defendant and Adair County deputy, said that even with the initial attempts to avoid bias in the case, a decision for how to proceed took three months. She said she thinks the prosecuting attorney had no conflict of interest.
"A lot of the public thinks otherwise, but [Jackie] and the prosecuting attorney never worked together," she said. "He never defended her on anything, and they never did any court cases together." She added that $20,000 in county taxes were spent on getting the lawyer.
Williams stated in an Aug. 15 press release that the coroner pledged that the inquest would be "a fair, complete and impartial process" but that on Aug. 14, he received "credible information that one of the jurors predetermined the case." Later that afternoon, Noe's attorney sent a press release that addressed William's claim.
In the Aug. 12 press release, Williams stated that he "promptly dismissed the case in a fashion that allows for charges to be filed at a later date."
"It is my opinion that Adair County potentially had civil liability exposure if Ms. Gleason were to be arrested on an invalid warrant," Williams said in the release.
Williams could not be reached for comment.
This case is the first time that the Castle Doctrine, which states that a homeowner has the right to kill anyone who illegally enters his or her home, has been applied in Missouri. It is unclear as to whether the jurors fully understood the implications of the doctrine, Jagger said.
According to Sergeant of Highway Patrol Tom Rohn, Gleason's job with the sheriff's department prompted the highway patrol to perform the investigation at the scene and present evidence during the inquest.
The coroner said that to further avoid bias, he sought private council from a St. Louis lawyer Michael Flynn. Noe said a coroner's inquest has no boundaries that keep him from seeking advice. Under normal circumstances, the prosecuting attorney presents the evidence during the inquest in a way that is unbiased and purely factual. Noe said he thinks Williams had a conflict of interest in the case.
A concession between Noe and Williams allowed an additional lawyer to sit in on the trial and prompt Noe to ask the witnesses questions that he thought were necessary.
Emily Gleason, daughter of the defendant and Adair County deputy, said that even with the initial attempts to avoid bias in the case, a decision for how to proceed took three months. She said she thinks the prosecuting attorney had no conflict of interest.
"A lot of the public thinks otherwise, but [Jackie] and the prosecuting attorney never worked together," she said. "He never defended her on anything, and they never did any court cases together." She added that $20,000 in county taxes were spent on getting the lawyer.
Williams stated in an Aug. 15 press release that the coroner pledged that the inquest would be "a fair, complete and impartial process" but that on Aug. 14, he received "credible information that one of the jurors predetermined the case." Later that afternoon, Noe's attorney sent a press release that addressed William's claim.
In the Aug. 12 press release, Williams stated that he "promptly dismissed the case in a fashion that allows for charges to be filed at a later date."
"It is my opinion that Adair County potentially had civil liability exposure if Ms. Gleason were to be arrested on an invalid warrant," Williams said in the release.
Williams could not be reached for comment.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Chris Lindley
posted 8/18/08 @ 6:24 PM CST
The Castle Doctrine does not "state that a homeowner has the right to kill anyone who illegally enters his or her home." It states that a resident of a domicile (Owner, renter, guest, or occupant) has the right to use deadly force if they feel they are in immediate bodily danger while in their place of residence. (Continued…)
Post a Comment