> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Trial and errors - URL: https://www.smdp.com/trial-and-errors/ - Published: 2006-11-14T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T22:06:46.000Z - Author: Kevin Herrera - Tags: Crime, Downtown, #archive-import *Defense gets an earful after ‘harassing’ jurors* DOWNTOWN, LA — Attorneys for George Russell Weller on Monday were barred from having any further contact with the jurors who convicted the 89-year-old of manslaughter for killing 10 people when he drove his car through a crowded Farmers’ Market more than three years ago. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson punished the defense for failing to contact him before reaching out to jurors, three of whom said they had been harassed repeatedly in the last month by an “aggressive” private investigator hired by the defense to find evidence of juror misconduct. Following a brief tongue-lashing in which he characterized the investigator’s actions as “very inappropriate, very offensive and very disrespectful,” Judge Johnson also emphatically rejected the defense’s request for a new trial because of juror misconduct, calling the motion nothing more than “a fishing expedition.” “These jurors worked hard and behaved admirably...one of the best juries I’ve ever had, and that says a lot,” Judge Johnson said. “I’m not going to permit (jurors) to be harassed any further by an overly aggressive private investigator... who tracked them down and treated them like felons running from a warrant.” By denying the request for a new trial, the judge opened the door for Weller to be sentenced as scheduled on Monday, Nov. 20. Weller, who was present for only the first few hours of the month-long trial, is suffering from hydrocephalus, or fluid on the brain, which has resulted in memory loss and the loss of use of his arms and legs, according to his physician. Judge Johnson has excused Weller from attending his sentencing. Weller, who remains free on bail, faces a maximum of 18 years in prison. Deputy District Attorney Sam Dordulian said one juror complained of being contacted three times in succession by a defense investigator. Twice the juror told the investigator she did not wish to speak, but the investigator continued contacting the juror until she told the investigator to “stop harassing me,” Dordulian said. “The court has inherent powers to protect jurors’ safety and privacy,” Dordulian said. “The defense went behind the court’s back.” Defense attorney Mark Overland insisted the defense was not trying to harass jurors, but was intent on finding out the truth as to whether or not misconduct occurred during deliberations. Overland said several jurors participated in a press conference immediately following the verdict, and therefore, disclosed their own identities to the public. “I fail to see where anything wrong was done,”Overland argued.“We were just trying to do everything we could to protect Mr. Weller’s right to a fair trial by an impartial jury.” In court papers filed last week,Overland said there were three instances of juror misconduct. In one case, Overland claimed one juror consulted his minister during the trial. In another instance, Overland said jurors conducted an unofficial experiment during a recess when they walked down a courthouse hallway, counting off 240 feet, the distance Weller traveled in his 1992 Buck LaSabre before entering the market. Judge Johnson said he found no evidence of misconduct, adding that he also went to church for spiritual guidance during the trial. “This is a whole lot of nothing,” Judge Johnson said. During the trial, which featured more than 50 eyewitnesses and accident-recreation specialists, Weller’s defense contended the senior became confused after he was involved in a fender bender at Arizona Avenue and Fourth Street, hit the accelerator instead of the brake, and then panicked and could not reverse his deadly collision course with the bustling marketplace. However, jurors sided with the prosecution, which argued that Weller had plenty of time to stop his car or steer clear of the market, but instead chose not to. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/111406-02_01.jpg) WONDERFUL TONIGHT: New York City’s Statue of Liberty is among the finalists for the new seven wonders of the world. (Photo: Photo courtesy) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/111406-02_02.jpg) WONDERFUL TONIGHT: New York City’s Statue of Liberty is among the finalists for the new seven wonders of the world. (Photo: Photo courtesy) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 14, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/111406.pdf?ref=smdp.com)