Juror's Tweet Results in Overturning of Arkansas Defendant Murder Conviction

A juror’s tweets during trial were enough for the Arkansas Supreme Court to reverse the murder conviction of a death-row inmate and order a new trial. 

The defendant, Erickson Dimas-Martinez, was convicted in 2010 of robbing and shooting a teenager, Derrick Jefferson, after a party. His lawyer said the juror’s tweets violated the trial judge’s instruction not to post on online or otherwise communicate with anyone about the case.

This is very unfortunate for the State and the victim and his family. But based on the public information available, it sounds like the right result.

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2011/12/08/arkansas-defendant-saved-by-the-tweet/