Washington, Feb 28 (ANI): Anand Jon Alexander's attorneys are demanding a fresh trial in his rape case after prosecutors stopped a juror who reportedly tried to meet with the Indian fashion designer's sister before a judgment was passed, it has emerged.
All motions in context of the proposed meeting are currently under wraps, however, the story came out in bits today inside Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David S. Wesley's courtroom, reports a blog on LA Weekly.
During deliberations, as per Wesley and Alexander's defense attorneys, a male juror contacted a defense investigator to set up a meeting with Alexander's sister Sanjana Jon at Starbucks, according to reports.
A recording device on Alexander's sister was put by a defense investigator and she was sent to Starbucks, but the juror was "intercepted" by District Attorney investigators before the meeting could take place.
Deputy District Attorney Mara Mcllvain made no comments, and the District Attorney's Office' representative said there would be no comment since the matter is under seal.
Defense attorney Ronald Richards said he will request that Wesley subpoena all e-mails and messages within the District Attorney's Office regarding the decision to stop the juror before the meeting.
Also, Jon's attorneys claim that during the trial prosecutors twice threatened a member of their team, Eric Chase - once with arrest and, at another point, with disbarment.
The defense contends that the threats were acts of intimidation that lowered Chase's level of aggressiveness during cross-examination of prosecution witnesses. (ANI)
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