NEWARK, N.J. – Lawyers for an Army officer and his wife want a mistrial declared in their child abuse case after a prosecutor mentioned the death of one of their children while questioning a witness.
Army Maj. John Jackson and his wife, Carolyn, are charged with abusing their three adopted children in 2010 when the family was living at Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway Township, New Jersey. One of the children died of natural causes in 2008.
Testimony abruptly ended Thursday after a prosecutor referred to an event when one child "was alive." The judge had ruled jurors would not be told about the death because it could be prejudicial.
The Jacksons have pleaded not guilty. A federal judge in Newark is expected to decide on their mistrial request Friday.
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