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Police and prison uniforms may be dowplayed at trial

Posted Sep14, 2007 at 04:24 PM

William Morva is considered a high risk prisoner and has appeared in court for pretrial hearings wearing the red New River Valley Regional Jail jumpsuit that such inmates get. Meanwhile, far more uniformed officers were in the courtroom for those hearings than is usual.

But at a trial steps are taken to reduce the likelihood a defendent will simply look guilty or dangerous, for fear of coloring jurors' opinions. Morva wore a suit at his March trial on robbery charges that predate his murder charges. (He got 38 years for those earlier charges, though his lawyer for that trial has filed an appeal.)

For the murder trial, Morva's lawyers successfully argued to ban off-duty law enforcement officers from wearing their uniforms in the courtroom.

-- The Roanoke Times

Crowd expected for Morva trial

Posted Sep14, 2007 at 03:51 PM

William Morva's highly anticipated trial on three counts of capital murder -- along with other alleged offenses related to the manhunt that shut down Virginia Tech on its first day of class last year -- starts today.

But if you’re reading this much after 8 a.m. and have any interest in attending you may have missed your chance.

Courtroom seats are "first come, first served" says Montgomery County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Chandler.

The courthouse doors open at 8. If you plan to go, don’t try to bring in any communication devices -- or anything that could be construed as weapon.

And don't expect to be able to enter and exit the courtroom at will.

Once proceedings are underway, you won’t be stopped from leaving, but won't be allowed back in until a break in the trial.

As for the press, only one camera and one still photographer are allowed in the courtroom, so media including this Web site will rely on pool footage and photos.

There may not be too much of that the first day, which is dedicated to jury selection.

Filming or photographing jurors is not allowed.

-- The Roanoke Times
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