A Montgomery County juror who didn’t want to deliberate caused a judge to send a three-day attempted murder trial back to the beginning.
“This was very unusual,” said Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Darren Popkin. “In my 25 years I’ve never seen anything like this, where the disorderly person is actually a juror.”
The trial for Darrell Matthews, who was accused of shooting an acquaintance twice in the chest at point-blank range during a Silver Spring party in August, wrapped up June 9. Judge Michael Algeo sent the jury to deliberate, but one juror refused to go. The juror, Uros Novakovski, no longer wanted to participate in the trial, and demanded the judge release him.
Algeo separated Novakovski from the jury pool because of his unruly outbursts. Matthews’ attorney moved for a mistrial soon after, noting that it was clear the jurors were continuing to deliberate with only 11 members. As proof, the 11 remaining jurors sent a note to the judge informing him they were in agreement on the charges.
“Maybe we can make a reality show of it, or a movie,” Algeo said from the bench, according to court records. “But the sad part of this is, this is reality, and everybody has been prejudiced and affected by it, and I don’t know that I have any choice but to grant a mistrial in this case.”
Algeo held Novakovski in contempt of court and sheriff’s deputies were called in to arrest him, authorities said. He spent a day in jail and then opted to pay a $5,000 fine instead of spending 89 more days behind bars.
Novakovski, who lives in North Bethesda, could not be reached for comment. When Algeo ordered him arrested, Novakovski became apologetic and told the judge he was diabetic.
“I’m sorry I made this commotion,” he said. “Maybe my sugar is very high or very low and I don’t act quite normally.”
