Virginia Double Murder Conviction Vacated Due to Juror Experimenting with Rifle Use for Suicide

 On November 9, 2022, a double murder conviction (March 2022)  in Fairfax County, Virginia, was vacated by the trial court due to a juror having experimented with use of a rifle for suicide.  The defense had presented evidence of possible suicide with a rifle.  A juror went home and used a rifle to see if that was physically possible.  Because of the weight and length of the .22 ca rifle the juror determined that suicide in that manner was not possible.  She shared her experiment with her fellow jurors during deliberations.  Prosecutors have indicated they will retry the case.  Once again, one juror violating the judge's admonitions has caused a waste of public and private resources in the tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.