By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
May 16, 2013, 14:07
PRINCE GEORGE — The trial of Harry Brantley Jr. was declared a mistrial after a video, containing information that was supposed to be omitted, was played in court.
Brantley was being tried May 7 in front of a jury for charges involving the attempted robbery and shooting of K&L Barbecue owners Kenny and Linda Purdie on Feb. 10, 2012.
The couple had just arrived home in the 800 block of Hines Road from the restaurant when they were approached by a man wielding a gun. The man ordered Linda to the ground, and shot Mr. Purdie in the shoulder before fleeing.
Brantley was recently accused in a string of robberies in the Hopewell area, picking up the nickname ‘The Paper Bag Bandit.” In that trial, he was charged with 15 charges in relation to the robberies, which took place from Dec. 2, 2011, to Jan. 23, 2012. The jury found Brantley guilty of only one charge.
The tape played for the jury May 7 contained an interview between police and Brantley. Any information involving the crimes in Hopewell was to be omitted before the tape was deemed admissible in court.
“The tape was played for the jury and still had some information that was inadmissible,” said Prince George’s Commonwealth Attorney Jay Paul.
In the tape played for the jury, there is mention of Brantley being a felon as well as other information involving his previous charges, which the prosecution failed to omit. When asked by the judge, they responded simply by saying “I must have overlooked it.”
A new trial will be set on the docket May 21.
