Jury in Ed Holley murder trial asks judge how to deliberate, whether they can use Google in jury room
The jury asked for a read-back of jury instructions, certain evidence photos and DNA reports, all of which were provided.
More Stories
The jury in the second trial of Ed Holley sought guidance Thursday from Orange County Court Judge Hyun Chin Kim on what they can and cannot say in the jury room, prompting a quick response from Judge Kim that the court cannot tell them how to deliberate.
They asked for a read-back of jury instructions, certain evidence photos and DNA reports, all of which were provided.
The jury then asked for help that could not be provided.
"Are we as jurors allowed to give our personal opinions and thoughts about what we think happened, how it happened, why it happened, how it happened, which weapon was used and how the weapon was disposed of?" the jury foreperson wrote in the note.
"You're asking us how to deliberate," Judge Kim told the jury before sending them back to the jury room. "That is solely within your domain."
Holley was arrested in 2023, and is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Megan McDonald in the Town of Wallkill in March 2003 in concert with someone else.
Prosecutors said Holley was jealous and upset that he was made to sit in the back seat of Megan's 1991 Mercury Sable, which led him to attack Megan while she was in the driver's seat, caving in her head and face with a hammer.
The case against Holley is mostly circumstantial.
It is unclear who else was in the car at the time of the attack on Megan.
Prosecutors believe Megan was killed sometime after midnight on March 14, 2003.
DNA reports showed that DNA from multiple friends of Megan were found in the car, including Holley's in the back seat, indicating the people were in the car at some point.
The court caught up with all of the jury's requests by midday Thursday, including a request to review photos of Megan's car.
The jury returns Friday morning to continue deliberations.
