Prosecutors Pull Video Confession in Uma Thurman Stalker Case  4/27/08

The trial of a man accused of stalking Uma Thurman hit a stumbling block on Thursday (24Apr08), when it was revealed a videotaped confession made by the defendant was in violation of his human rights.

In the video, Jack Jordan, 37, confesses to accusations of behaving bizarrely towards the actress and threatening to kill himself if the Kill Bill star began dating another man.

He is charged with misdemeanor stalking, aggravated harassment and felony coercion - although the critical piece of video evidence, taped after his arrest last year (Oct07), will no longer be shown to the trial's jury.

The decision was made by Justice Gregory Carro on Friday (25Apr08), after Jordan's attorney George Vomvolakis claimed the 'confession' had violated his constitutional right to counsel.

At the start of a pre-trial hearing at Manhattan's Supreme Court on Thursday, Jordan took to the stand, claiming officers told him any confession would be taken "as a courtesy", and that if Jordan pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, the charges would be dismissed.

Detective Edward Yzaguirre was also questioned on the stand, but denied Jordan's claims of a plea deal, insisting "no promises were made". However, concluding the hearing on Friday (25Apr08), Justice Gregory Carro ruled the fact that Jordan had not been offered access to a lawyer meant the 'confession' could no longer be used for the trial.

Jordan's defense lawyer George Vomvolakis says, "It wasn't made clear to him that he was entitled to a lawyer at that point. They've conceded there was a constitutional issue - that my client's Sixth Amendment right to counsel was violated."

The trial will kick off on Monday (28Apr08), when Thurman is scheduled to appear as a witness.

 

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