Jury selection continues in Triplett trial
By Melanie Davis
Melanie@highcountrymedia.net

The tedious task of jury selection is continuing in the trial of Kyle Quentin Triplett. The charges against Triplett, 23, of Boone, include first degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, felony burning of personal property and first degree murder.

The charges stem from the death of college student Stephen Harrington, whose body was discovered in the trunk of his car on Sleepy Hollow Lane in Foscoe on Nov. 8, 2005. Police received a 911 call from a tree-trimming crew at approximately 7:45 a.m. reporting a vehicle fire. Foscoe firefighters and Watauga Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene. They forced open the trunk of the vehicle and discovered Harrington’s partially burned body, with his arms bound and his head wrapped with duct tape.

Triplett is the first of the three co-defendants to face a jury. The trials for Neil Matthew Sargeant, 24, and Matthew Brandon Dalrymple, 20, both facing the same charges, are tentatively scheduled for early 2008.
The trial began on Monday with Judge James Baker of Watauga Superior Court hearing pretrial motions from both the prosecution and defense.

A pool of 59 potential jurors reported to the courthouse on Tuesday morning for questioning by the prosecution before being handed over to the defense. Twelve potentials jurors are brought in at a time, and a replacement is called as a juror is dismissed from serving.

Potential jurors filled out a six-page questionnaire prior to being interviewed by the prosecution in the presence of the defense attorneys and the defendant, Triplett. Once inside the courtroom, the 12 potential jurors are given a list of prospective witnesses, approximately 250 names from each party in the case, to review. “Not all of the people on the list will testify, but are potential witnesses in this case,” District Attorney Jerry Wilson said.

Jurors are asked various questions about their knowledge and familiarity with the case, if they have a predetermined notion of the innocence or guilt of Triplett, and other topics concerning jobs, community ties and television preference. Court and crime television shows were stressed to be of entertainment value, and not an accurate representative of law enforcement and investigative techniques.

One major point became potential jurors’ feelings on the death penalty. As this is a capital case, Triplett faces the possibility of the death penalty if found guilty. Jurors who stated they would under no circumstance vote for the death penalty were dismissed. Several jurors were dismissed based on opposition to the death penalty.

Potential jurors were also dismissed based on knowledge of defendant, his family, or medical reasons. By Wednesday, there were only fourteen jurors remaining in the pool still yet to be questioned. A second pool of jurors reported on Thursday morning.

Potential jurors are interviewed by the prosecution, until a satisfactory panel of 12 is determined and handed over to the defense for questioning. Just before noon on Wednesday, the prosecution settled on a panel and defense took over.

However, jury selection was put on hold during Wednesday afternoon’s court session. Defense attorneys stated an issue had arisen which must be discussed with the district attorney. After a 15-minute recess, counsel and defendant met with Baker and the court reporter in the judge’s chambers. After the conference court stood in recess for nearly 30 minutes.

Once back in session, another brief meeting was held in the judge’s chambers. Immediately following their return to the courtroom, Baker stated, “In light of the conference, it has been determined additional time will be required before jury selection is resumed.”

Baker dismissed the potential jurors until 9:30 a.m. Thursday morning, and court stood in recess for the evening in order for the prosecution and defense attorneys to address the matters at hand.

The topics of the conferences in judge’s chambers were not released.