Via USA Today:
The widow of Pulse nightclub gunman Omar Mateen will stand trial in Orlando, home to the nation’s second deadliest mass shooting in modern history, after a federal judge ruled staying in the city wouldn’t prevent a fair trial.
Lawyers for Noor Salman had fought to move the case outside the city, arguing intense media coverage of the shooting could prompt bias in potential jurors. U.S. District Judge Paul Byron denied the request, court documents show.
Salman has been behind bars for nearly a year since her January arrest. She’s facing federal charges of obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting by providing material support to a terrorist organization. If convicted, Salman could face life in prison.
Venue changes are rare, and the burden on the accused is heavy. Even Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was denied a change of venue. He is appealing his convictions and death sentence, arguing the judge in his case should have moved his trial.
Salman is scheduled to be tried on March 1.
A change of venue in this case ,like the marathon bombing would not help. The media was so over this you would have to find 16 people who lived “UN-Plugged” existences in the wilds of Montana. It will be interesting to follow the case though. The major question will be : What responsibility does a husband or wife have, if they believe a spouse may commit a crime. The emotional impact of the case and not the facts will convict this woman. I say convict, because it is a done deal. I do believe however that the woman bears no responsibility for this as the facts have been presented in the media. It also could set a dangerous precedent However Florida’s Spousal Privilege law,Section 90.504 of Florida’s Evidence Code governs the spousal privilege in this state. I believe since one spouse is dead, under the statute there is no longer privilege. So it will be a very murky proceeding. It will spend a long time in appeals and I believe will be in front of the Supreme’s in 10 years.