JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Just days before jury selection is set to begin in Johnathan Quiles’ death penalty trial, his attorneys requested a week-long delay – a request the judge denied.
“We’re starting trial next week,” Circuit Judge Anthony Salem said Thursday. “Be prepared.”
Defense attorney Robert Davis had requested additional time to review with their client the dozens of video clips prosecutors will introduce at trial. He is also waiting for at least one deposition transcript. Davis has been in trial all week, something the judge previously agreed was “unfortunate,” given his need to prepare for the capital case. But, Salem said the long-delayed case would stay on the schedule that both sides agreed to months ago.
“I can’t believe we are talking about this three days before a death penalty case,” Salem said. “This case was set for trial months ago.”
The 2019 case was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and was originally under a different judge. Assistant State Attorney Dan Skinner said he was willing to delay the case because he wants to give the defense an opportunity to view the surveillance videos prosecutors will show jurors. Skinner said they have not had a chance to do that due to Davis’ busy schedule.
Salem was not persuaded, noting the videos were turned over in discovery “four and a half years ago – three Jaguar head coaches ago.”
Davis replied that the video turned over amounted to “almost two terabytes of videos -- 30 thousand videos,” as opposed to the 30-second clips prosecutors will show at trial.
Quiles has pleaded not guilty to raping and murdering his niece, 16-year-old Iyana Sawyer. The Terry Parker High School student disappeared from campus in late-2018. Her body was never found. Prosecutors believe Quiles killed her because she was pregnant with his child.
Jury selection begins Monday with 112 potential jurors. It’s expected to take two days to select a jury of 12 plus four alternates. The trial and potential penalty phase of the case are jointly expected to take two weeks. The jury could be sequestered once they begin deliberating if that process lasts more than one day, as required by Florida law.