Jurors In Etan Patz Mistrial: Pedro Hernandez 'Needs To Pay'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- More drama has erupted in the quest for justice for Etan Patz, one month after the case against a man accused in his death ended in a mistrial.
As CBS2's Jessica Schneider reported, defendant Pedro Hernandez was back in court Wednesday – and so were the jurors. Several of the jurors arrived to show their support for the Patz family, and to face off with the lone juror who did not agree that Hernandez was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
One by one, six of the original jurors walked into the courtroom where they spent four months. Their emotions remained raw a month after their efforts ended in a mistrial.
Jurors In Etan Patz Mistrial: Pedro Hernandez 'Needs To Pay'
"It's been 36 years," jury forewoman Alia Dahhan told reporters, including WCBS 880's Irene Cornell. "Eleven of us voted guilty. Really, what more is there to explain? Enough is enough. Pedro Hernandez needs to pay for what he did to Etan. It's very simple."
Dahhan and five of the others spoke with Etan's father, Stanley Patz, at the court hearing to schedule a retrial. They stood by their sympathy.
"We actually were able to have a moment with him," said juror Jennifer O'Connor. "We couldn't say much, because, of course, we're being respectful in the courtroom. But we shook his hand and told him that we were there to support him and his family."
Adam Sirois, the lone holdout who refused to vote guilty, surprised the others by showing up to the hearing. His refusal deadlocked the jury for a final time back on May 8.
When asked if there was bad blood between him and the other jurors, Sirois said, "I have no qualms with the other jurors."
He also scoffed at claims by other jurors that he held out against a guilty verdict for publicity.
"I would say they are asking for more publicity than I am," Sirois said.
Defense attorney Harvey Fishbein told the court he is ready to retry the case. But he blasted comments by Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Osborn.
Illuzzi-Osborn is now running for Staten Island District Attorney, to replace Dan Donovan who was recently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She has talked extensively about her belief in Hernandez's guilt while campaigning.
Veteran Manhattan ADA Joel Seidemann will take over the reins for a second trial.
"We are very frustrated and disheartened, still," Seidemann said. "It still resonates with us to this day, which is why we're here supporting the new DA and his team."
considering the case against Hernandez, 54, confessed to killing the 6-year-old boy in SoHo in 1979. He said he lured Patz into a bodega basement and strangled him.
The defense maintains Hernandez made up the story due to mental illness.
At trial, a defense witness testified that convicted pedophile Jose Ramos admitted to him that he molested the boy. Ramos was never charged in Etan's disappearance, but he was considered the prime suspect for decades.
The jury in May could not decide whether Hernandez is guilty or not on three separate charges: second-degree murder, felony murder and kidnapping.
Each of the three charges was punishable by 25 years to life in prison.
A retrial is expected to begin in either December or January. The judge is still deciding which month to start jury selection, when attorneys will attempt to find 12 new and impartial jurors.
