Published June 07, 2017
The Latest on the trial of a North Carolina minister accused of orchestrating the beating of a gay congregant (all times local):
5:35 p.m.
The son of a juror arrested during the trial of a North Carolina minister charged with beating a gay congregant says his father made a mistake by taking unauthorized documents to court.
The jury was in its second day of deliberations Tuesday in the trial of Brooke Covington, a minister at Word of Faith Fellowship in Spindale, North Carolina, when 71-year-old Perry Shade Jr. was charged with contempt for bringing the papers.
Judge Gary Gavenus had warned jurors not to do their own research.
Gavenus declared a mistrial and sentenced Shade to 30 days in jail and $500 fine.
Shade's son, Chris Shade, says his father isn't affiliated with the church and wasn't trying to influence the trial's outcome.
A retrial is scheduled for the court term beginning July 17.
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5 a.m.
Two people were sent to jail during the trial of North Carolina church minister charged in the beating of a gay congregant, but neither was on trial in the case.
The jury was in its second day of deliberations Tuesday in the trial of Brooke Covington, a minister at Word of Faith Fellowship in Spindale, North Carolina, when juror Perry Shade Jr. reported being harassed by someone.
Chad Metcalf, who had a hearing Tuesday for an unrelated traffic violation, was charged with harassing a juror. The judge said Metcalf told the jurors to reach a verdict.
Only hours later, Shade was charged with contempt of court for distributing unauthorized outside material to other jurors.
The judge declared a mistrial. He wasn't sure when a new trial would be scheduled.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/the-latest-jurors-son-says-dad-made-mistake-with-documents