The “B” side of an otherwise somber trial

March 27, 2008

The trial of David Lee Miller, convicted Wednesday of killing Elizabeth Walters and their unborn child, was serious and emotional, with tears shed on the witness stand and in the gallery by family and friends on both sides.

But for a brief moment Wednesday morning there was laughter all around – thanks to Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Dana M. Levitz’s cassette tape recorder.

It happened as Levitz was near the end of instructing the jury. He had gone through the responsibilities of jurors and thoroughly reviewed and defined the charges Miller faced. The judge reassured the panel that he was following his longstanding practice of recording his instructions in case the jury wanted to hear them again while deliberating.

Just then Levitz, whose voice booms even when he’s not raising it, was stopped silent by a “click” that was audible in the back of the courtroom.

One side of his cassette was full.

The whole courtroom chuckled as a smiling Levitz flipped the tape and continued.

DANNY JACOBS, Legal Affairs Writer

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Posted by Jackie Sauter | Filed Under law, maryland 

Comments

One Response to “The “B” side of an otherwise somber trial”

  1. Anonymous on March 28th, 2008 6:44 am

    Wow, that was hysterical story and a really worthwhile post to this blog.

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