Thursday, 4:30 PM
Judge declares mistrial after defendant hit juror
By Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff
A judge declared a mistrial today in a case in which the defendant was accused of punching a juror during on the opening day of his trial for an alleged 2001 crime spree that included the nonfatal shooting of a Dedham Police officer.
Suffolk Superior Court Judge Patrick Brady made the ruling after four of the 15 jurors in the case said they could not remain impartial if the trial of Richard Glawson continued.
The ruling reversed a decision Monday by Associate Justice Judith Cowin of the state's Supreme Judicial Court, who rejected a request for a mistrial made by Glawson's attorney, Joseph Griffin Jr. In her one-page decision, Cowin ruled that Brady should question jurors on whether they could remain impartial.
