Google Search By Juror Causes Mistrial In JeffCo Murder Case

BIRMINGHAM, AL - After a juror in the murder trial of Fessor Raynard Pearson used Google to get information on the defendant, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Teresa Pulliam declared a mistrial. Pearson is accused of murdering 56-year-old James Morgan in 2015.

The trial began Tuesday, and after opening statements, one juror took out his cell phone and Googled Pearsonto find his criminal record. After the juror found the information, he told other jurors, according to a report by Alabama Media Group.

Court records state, "This Court has no alternative, but to declare a mistrial based on juror misconduct." A new trial was set for November 26. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Patch morning newsletter.)

Morgan was shot to death late on the evening of Dec. 4, 2015, in the street on Ninth Court South in the city's Southtown housing projects. Police were called to the scene about 1 a.m. on Dec. 5, and found Morgan with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 1:20 a.m.

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