The attorney for accused killer Caius Veiovis told a judge in
Massachusetts on Thursday that he is concerned that his client's
"unusual appearance" could make it hard for him to get fair jury.
Veiovis, the last of three men heading to trial in the slayings of three
Pittsfield men in August 2011, has horn implants and facial tattoos.
"There's a serious factor of curiosity and concern when the jury first
sees him," Veiovis' attorney, James G. Reardon Jr., said in Hampden
Superior Court.
Concern about Veiovis' appearance was one of several topics handled
during a hearing Thursday leading up to the trial, which is scheduled to
begin Sept. 3.
The prosecution's case could take as long as 2 1/2 weeks.
Reardon said he had received a lot of suggestions on the subject of his
client's appearance - much of it unsolicited - and he wanted to discuss
how to handle the issue with the court.
"I think we have to get it out there," he said, adding that he wanted to
make sure potential jurors were able to clearly see his client's
features.
During Thursday's hearing, Veiovis had his shoulder-length hair pulled
back into a ponytail, revealing his horn implants, a tattoo featuring
Norse Runes - an ancient Germanic alphabet - across his right cheek and
the numbers 666 in the center of his forehead.
Reardon said he had heard "urban legends" concerning the numbers 666,
but he wasn't fully aware of what it meant. He said jurors might have their own ideas on the subject.
Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless told the court he wasn't
planning to go into any of the possible meanings of the tattoos or try
"to connect them to the charges."
The prosecutor suggested showing the potential jurors a close-up
photograph of Veiovis, one that would likely be allowed into evidence
during the trial.
Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder said he was disinclined to have a photograph of
the defendant on a screen while a jury was being chosen.
"It rubs me the wrong way," he said.
He decided that he would ask potential jurors if there was anything
about the defendant's appearance that could keep them from being fair
and he would let them look at Veiovis' photo at the time they are to be
individually interviewed.
Veiovis, 33, of Pittsfield, is accused of helping Adam Lee Hall, 37, of
Peru, and David Chalue, 47, kidnap, torture, kill and dismember David
Glasser, Edward Frampton and Robert Chadwell in late August 2011 as
Tropical Storm Irene was bearing down on the Berkshires.
Veiovis has denied three counts each of murder, kidnapping and witness intimidation. On Thursday, Kinder denied a motion by Reardon to keep out of the trial photographs that were taken of various weapons found at Veiovis's apartment during the police investigation. Police found machetes, knives and spiked bats during a search of the residence. None were taken since they tested negative for blood, according to testimony in the earlier trials. The judge said the images had "probative value" since they showed that the defendant had access to weapons. The firearms used in the killings and the tools used to dismember the bodies have never been recovered. Kinder likewise denied a motion to keep out anatomical and surgical illustrations found collaged on the wall of Veiovis' old apartment. A request by Reardon to once again move the trial, which was already moved out of Berkshire County due to pretrial publicity, also was denied. Reardon believes there would be more potential jurors who were unaware of the case further east.
Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless told the court he wasn't
planning to go into any of the possible meanings of the tattoos or try
"to connect them to the charges."
The prosecutor suggested showing the potential jurors a close-up
photograph of Veiovis, one that would likely be allowed into evidence
during the trial.
Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder said he was disinclined to have a photograph of
the defendant on a screen while a jury was being chosen.
"It rubs me the wrong way," he said.
He decided that he would ask potential jurors if there was anything
about the defendant's appearance that could keep them from being fair
and he would let them look at Veiovis' photo at the time they are to be
individually interviewed.
Veiovis, 33, of Pittsfield, is accused of helping Adam Lee Hall, 37, of
Peru, and David Chalue, 47, kidnap, torture, kill and dismember David
Glasser, Edward Frampton and Robert Chadwell in late August 2011 as
Tropical Storm Irene was bearing down on the Berkshires. Veiovis has denied three counts each of murder, kidnapping and witness intimidation. On Thursday, Kinder denied a motion by Reardon to keep out of the trial photographs that were taken of various weapons found at Veiovis's apartment during the police investigation. Police found machetes, knives and spiked bats during a search of the residence. None were taken since they tested negative for blood, according to testimony in the earlier trials. The judge said the images had "probative value" since they showed that the defendant had access to weapons. The firearms used in the killings and the tools used to dismember the bodies have never been recovered. Kinder likewise denied a motion to keep out anatomical and surgical illustrations found collaged on the wall of Veiovis' old apartment. A request by Reardon to once again move the trial, which was already moved out of Berkshire County due to pretrial publicity, also was denied. Reardon believes there would be more potential jurors who were unaware of the case further east.
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