Harmon-Wright trial in recess (UPDATED)

UPDATE: The 12th juror returns around 10 a.m. and deliberations are again underway.


The Daniel Harmon-Wright murder trial was in recess for about an hour this morning as one of the 12 jurors dealt with a family emergency.

When court reconvened at 9 a.m. today Judge Susan L. Whitlock explained that one of the jurors had an unspecified family emergency. She recessed the trial until 10 a.m. There were originally two alternate jurors who heard all of the arguments, but Whitlock dismissed them yesterday afternoon when the jury received the case.

Harmon Wright, a former officer with the Culpeper Police Department, is charged with murder in the shooting death of Patricia A. Cook the morning of Feb. 9 of last year.

Whitlock was expected to make a decision on how to proceed with the jury deliberations shortly after 10 a.m. The 12-member jury much reach any verdict unanimously. The trial cannot proceed with 11 jurors. If found guilty, the jury has three options: first degree murder, second degree murder or voluntary manslaughter.