MARYLAND BRIEFING
MARYLAND BRIEFING
Tuesday, July 11, 2006; Page B05
U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY
Jury of Five Selected in Rape Case
A panel of five U.S. Naval Academy officers was selected yesterday to hear the court-martial of the school's star quarterback, Lamar Owens, who is accused of raping a female midshipman.
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Nine other potential jurors were struck from the panel by defense attorneys, government prosecutors and the Navy judge hearing the case during a full day of questioning at the Washington Navy Yard.
The judge, Navy Cmdr. John A. Maksym, dismissed four potential jurors because of concerns about their objectivity or other reasons brought up in closed hearings.
The defense struck four others, including a Navy commander who had served as an instructor for the female midshipman and a Marine colonel who is a senior officer at the academy. Defense attorney Reid H. Weingarten raised concerns that the colonel was "too close to authority" to be an objective juror.
The judge raised concerns when the prosecution asked to dismiss the remaining African American prospective juror, a Navy commander, because she had been the victim of an armed robbery. Owens is African American.
"I don't like the fact we don't have any African American members on the panel," Maksym said. But he granted the government's request, saying, "I don't have any suspicions they are doing this for racial reasons."
The panel consists of four men and one woman.
Opening statements are expected to begin this morning, followed by first witnesses.
-- Steve Vogel
