REPORT SPOTLIGHTS JURY LETTER : SIMPSON DISMISSAL BEING INVESTIGATED.Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services Although O.J. Simpson's criminal trial ended months ago, questions surrounding the dismissal of a Simpson case juror juror n. any person who actually serves on a jury. Lists of potential jurors are chosen from various sources such as registered voters, automobile registration or telephone directories. in May mounted Monday in the wake of a ``60 Minutes'' report investigating misconduct in the dismissal of a juror. ``At this stage it's a matter that we are looking into,'' Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Suzanne Childs said of the origin of a letter to Judge Lance Ito Lance Allan Ito (born August 2, 1950 in Los Angeles, California) is a Japanese-American Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, best known for his role in the O. J. Simpson murder trial. He currently hears felony criminal cases at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. that accused former juror Francine Florio-Bunten of misconduct. The CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. newsmagazine aired a report Sunday that the unsigned letter could have been a fake. The writer claimed to be a receptionist for a book agent who had reached an agreement with a juror and her husband to write a book. Ito put the Simpson trial on hold and questioned jurors about the letter. One juror wrote a note to Florio-Bunten, alerting her that Ito would ask her about the book. In chambers in chambers adj. referring to discussions or hearings held in the judge's office, called his chambers. It is also called "in camera." (See: in camera) , Florio-Bunten denied working on a book and getting the note. But Ito felt Florio-Bunten was less than candid and dropped her and a second juror from the panel. Ito declined to investigate the source of the letter, as prosecutors suggested, calling it a ``waste of my time'' since he intended to dismiss Florio-Bunten for another reason. No evidence has been uncovered to suggest that the defense was responsible for the letter. Defense attorneys and investigators all have strongly denied any involvement in it. In other Simpson-related developments, the Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. reported that a family friend described Nicole Brown Simpson's final weeks as a tawdry mix of club-hopping, sexual experimentation and possible drug use - a ``dangerous life'' that drove Simpson to distraction. Cora Fishman, identified as a close friend of Simpson and his slain ex-wife, said she even warned Nicole Simpson about what Fishman considered to be a decadent lifestyle. ``At that time Nicole was leading, like, a dangerous life,'' Fishman testified March 20, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. deposition transcripts obtained by the AP. ``I mean, she was coming on to guys. She was, you know, doing these things with Faye (Resnick), and I was worried about her.'' Fishman quoted Simpson as telling her: ``I can't go on like this.'' |
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