LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Tiffany Moss sat quietly at the defense table in a Gwinnett County courtroom where she’s defending herself in a death penalty case. She’s accused of starving her stepdaughter to death and burning her body to hide the crime, before dumping her remains in a dumpster outside her apartment in 2013.
This is day two of jury selection in the trial and Moss is representing herself in the death penalty case.
Moss wore a light pink shirt, gray slacks and had her hair in neat braids. She barely spoke a word all morning but seemed engaged and occasionally made notes as District Attorney Danny Porter questioned jurors.
The questions from Porter focused on juror’s opinions about the death penalty.
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In one lengthy exchange with a prospective juror, he questioned her membership in an anti-death penalty group. When asked by Porter if she “had qualms” about the death penalty, the juror relayed she did and spoke about having to euthanize animals for her job in the veterinary field.
Porter moved on, asking the juror if she would have a problem imposing a death sentence or life in prison if the defendant was found guilty of starving their child and burning their body. The juror became visibly upset and her voice choked up during her answer.
In the end, this particular juror said she could impose the death penalty or life in prison if the evidence proved it was warranted and Moss was found guilty.
Emani Moss
When Porter completed questioning, Judge Hutchinson asked Moss if she had any questions for the juror. Her response was “No questions, your honor.”
After the juror left the courtroom, District Attorney Porter asked that she be excused from serving on the jury. He cited out her one-time membership in an anti-death penalty group.
Moss had a lengthy response that lasted about a minute. She was cognizant and well-spoken when she told the judge she felt the juror could be fair and impartial. The judge, ultimately, agreed and the juror was not excused from serving.
During the afternoon session, Moss smiled at jurors at times and questioned a couple of them about their opinions. She asked one woman about her husband's business relationship with Porter. Porter revealed he was a customer of her husband's.
"Earlier Danny stated that he knows your husband," Moss asked the potential juror. "So would the contact he had with your husband... the idea of guilt or innocence... have any sway toward you?"
The juror replied no and she was, ultimately, held over for service.
About half of the prospective jurors called had been questioned by the end of Tuesday. The judge indicated the trial may not actually start until next week and that the remainder of this week would focus on jury selection.
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