[Edqpdnuu]

A few years back, I sat on a jury for a murder trial, it was perhaps one of the worst things I have ever experienced in my life.

These are the main points of the trial.
Two 15 year old boys were hanging out getting drunk with a retarded 28 year old man on New Years Eve. (Note, my eldest child was 15 when I sat on this jury)
All three of them lived in government housing, and were neighbors.
The two boys left for about 30 minutes, then returned to the apartment.
Shortly after their return, they attacked the retarded man, one held him down and the other sliced him up with a box-cutter. (Note, the jury members had to view the photo's)
They then ransacked the apartment and found a few things to steal.
Before they left, they realized he wasn't dead yet, so they took a hammer and smashed his head in. (Note, again we had to view the photos)
The trial wasn't about whether or not they had committed murder, it was about whether or not it was 1st Degree Murder.
The boy was charged and being tried as an adult.
In the state I live in, the death penalty can be applied for 1st degree murder, but only if the crime is committed by somebody 18 years old or greater.
Minimum sentence for 1st degree murder is 20 years regardless of age.

In the end, it took the 12 of us less than an hour to determine that it was 1st degree. The defense attorney polled the Jury (that meant we each had to stand and state our decision individually). Only two jurors didn't have tears running down their face as they were polled, neither of them had kids of their own. We didn't set the punishment, just the conviction, but we all knew this kid was going to prison for at least 20 years.
If I ever get selected as a potential juror for a teen murder trial again, I'll do everything I can to get out of it. Including contempt of court if that is what it takes. It sucked.

What is the worst jury duty you've ever had to do?

[Manteiv]

The worst for me was a drunk driver that ran over not one but two little 8 year old girls walking along the road (never realized it) and he would not have been caught if it hadn't been for his wife turning him in after the news broke about the two little girls. It was a sad month in this neighborhood.

[Angelinaaiiiiiiiii]

The worst for me was a drunk driver that ran over not one but two little 8 year old girls walking along the road (never realized it) and he would not have been caught if it hadn't been for his wife turning him in after the news broke about the two little girls. It was a sad month in this neighborhood.

The death of children would be a suck jury duty to do also.

[CelexaNY]

The death of children would be a suck jury duty to do also.

the guy sat there a cried, he changed his plea mid way through the trial, it was awful.