Can Corasanti Jury Avoid Outside Influence Until Tuesday?

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Jurors in the trial of James Corasanti won't be back in the courtroom until Tuesday. One attorney says while not being exposed to even friendly banter about the case will be next to impossible, he believes jurors will not let anything influence them.

"I can tell you I have full faith they will try not to be influenced. I've been very impressed with how seriously jurors take their instructions from their judge," says attorney Barry Covert, who has been following the trial. Avoiding it won't be easy even if they stay away from TV, radio and newspapers over the holiday weekend. "Other people are talking about it not knowing they're in the presence of the juror. Some may want to make a point to a juror. It's hard to imagine you can be that isolated but I believe they will try." Covert says that possible exposure is why it's dangerous to have the jury away from court for so long.

Covert says he's not surprised attorney Joel Daniels sought a mistrial after articles were published on the case. "Not that the media isn't doing their job in being balanced, but the articles are perceived to be sympathetic to the victim," says Covert. He adds if jurors were to read them, the defense would have every right to think the jury could be influenced toward the prosecution. Jurors told Judge Sheila DiTullio they did not read those reports.