WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Newspapers challenge judge's order to close Ross hearing (New London-AP) _ Two newspapers are challenging a state judge's orders that would bar the public and media from attending part of the death penalty retrial of serial killer Michael Ross. The Day of New London and The Hartford Courant filed the appeal Friday in Appellate Court, a day after Superior Court Judge Thomas Miano ordered the courtroom closed. Miano rendered his decision during arguments by Ross' defense team that criticized the way Ross' case was originally prosecuted. Miano said public disclosure of some of the details of the arguments could make it difficult to find impartial jurors. Lawyers are in the process of choosing 12 jurors and four alternate jurors for a new sentencing hearing. Ross faces the death penalty or life in prison for the murder of six girls and young women in the early 1980s. Attorney Ralph Elliot, who filed the appeal on behalf of both newspapers, argued for alternatives. He said Miano could hold the hearing after jury selection is complete and order jurors not to read, listen or watch anything about the case. Ross' case has drawn widespread publicity since his arrest in 1983. "The likelihood that, after the massive publicity that has lasted over 15 years, an impartial jury might not be available because of a hearing on two motions is both highly speculative and extremely remote," Elliot argued. Ross, a former Jewett City insurance salesman, pleaded guilty to two killings in 1985 and was convicted of four others in 1987. Later that year, he was sentenced to death. In 1994, the state Supreme Court upheld his conviction but overturned the death sentence because the trial judge had excluded part of a psychiatric report that might have helped him escape death. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Newspapers challenge judge's order to close Ross hearing
(New London-AP) _ Two newspapers are challenging a state judge's orders that would bar the public and media from attending part of the death penalty retrial of serial killer Michael Ross.

The Day of New London and The Hartford Courant filed the appeal Friday in Appellate Court, a day after Superior Court Judge Thomas Miano ordered the courtroom closed.

Miano rendered his decision during arguments by Ross' defense team that criticized the way Ross' case was originally prosecuted. Miano said public disclosure of some of the details of the arguments could make it difficult to find impartial jurors.

Lawyers are in the process of choosing 12 jurors and four alternate jurors for a new sentencing hearing. Ross faces the death penalty or life in prison for the murder of six girls and young women in the early 1980s.

Attorney Ralph Elliot, who filed the appeal on behalf of both newspapers, argued for alternatives. He said Miano could hold the hearing after jury selection is complete and order jurors not to read, listen or watch anything about the case.

Ross' case has drawn widespread publicity since his arrest in 1983.

"The likelihood that, after the massive publicity that has lasted over 15 years, an impartial jury might not be available because of a hearing on two motions is both highly speculative and extremely remote," Elliot argued.

Ross, a former Jewett City insurance salesman, pleaded guilty to two killings in 1985 and was convicted of four others in 1987. Later that year, he was sentenced to death. In 1994, the state Supreme Court upheld his conviction but overturned the death sentence because the trial judge had excluded part of a psychiatric report that might have helped him escape death.

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