July 15, 2009

OWEGO-- An alternate juror backs out Wednesday- reopening jury selection and delaying the long-awaited retrial for businessman Calvin Harris.

     The court was ready to hear opening statements Wednesday afternoon until a juror said the trial would interfere with his job, and he needed to be excused.

     Chemung County Judge James Hayden says it's not a good sign the jury's already down to only two alternates in a trial that could take three weeks, so he'd like to bring in another panel tomorrow to try to get a couple more alternate jurors.

    One jury already convicted Harris, of murdering his wife Michele, who's been missing since September 2001.

     A judge threw out the 2007 verdict after a surprise witness came forward on the day of sentencing.

     Harris has been a free man since.

     Some of Harris's Southern Tier neighbors have conflicting views as to whether the new trial is worth their tax money.

     “I think he deserves a chance in court. I mean, if he's guilty he needs to go to jail, but if not, he needs to be set free,” said Daniel Beckman of Willseyville.

     Ralph DeRocco, from Waverly, said, “it's a waste of money, you've tried him already once, if they had anything to prove him innocent, they should have brought it up then.”

     The selected jurors were ordered back in court Thursday morning at 11:00.

     If alternates are in place by then, opening statements will begin.