Murder Verdict Upheld Despite Noncitizen Juror

A Maryland appeals court has upheld a murder conviction of a man even though one of the jurors who convicted him was not a citizen of the United States.

Marcus D. Owens, 25, was found guilty of child abuse and second-degree murder in the death of his toddler stepson.

After his conviction, one juror who is from Nigeria and a legal resident of the U.S. was concerned that he wasn’t an American citizen. Allegedly, the juror passed over the references to citizenship on his questionnaire form and wasn’t aware of the requirement until the day of the verdict.

However, according to Maryland state law, jurors must be able to vote, which requires they be U.S. citizens.

Owens requested a retrial on the premise that one juror did not meet the requirements to serve on the jury. Circuit Judge Diane O. Leasure denied his request stating that “no evidence” indicates Owens was denied a fair trial because of the Nigerian juror.

The state’s second-highest court agreed that the Nigerian juror’s questionnaire answer was unintentional and Leasure’s decision was “well reasoned.”

Owens has been sentenced to 60 years in prison. 

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