GUILTY SC - Samantha Josephson, 21, Columbia, thought she was getting into Uber, 29 Mar 2019 *Arrest* #2

[Gardenista]

Stephen Fastenau
@StephenFastenau
·
21m
Big news out of the gate in Nathaniel Rowland’s murder trial: Rowland appeared before Judge Clifton Newman about12:30 and said he wasn’t satisfied by his defense from public defender Tracy Pinnock and said his family has been in touch with another attorney to represent him.

GMAB

 

[Chelly]

SC man accused in ride-hiring murder of USC students seeks new lawyer
COLUMBIA — The 27-year-old man facing murder charges in the killing of 21-year-old Samantha Josephson told a judge the first day of the trial he wanted new representation........

..Pressed by Newman why he wasn’t satisfied with Pinnock’s work, Rowland said she was unprepared and disorderly. Pinnock, with the public defender’s office 13 years, told Newman she had represented Rowland to the best of her ability.

..Rowland said his family had been in touch with another attorney, Debra Moore, who was to represent him. Pinnock said she spoke with the attorney the night of July 18 and that she had been told a new attorney had not been retained.

 

[Chelly]

[URL='https://twitter.com/StephenFastenau']Stephen Fastenau
@StephenFastenau[/URL]
·
12m
Judge will decide what happens. He’s asked that the attorney Rowland has said his family wants to hire appear in court to clarify whether she has been retained. Said of Rowland or his family had the ability to hire private defense, they would have by now.

 

[Chelly]

Stephen Fastenau
@StephenFastenau
·
27m
Newman told Rowland the state has spent thousands on his defense and expert witnesses and that he is inclined to move forward. Also noted the attorney Rowland wants to hire, Debra Moore, worked in the solicitor’s office while Rowland’s case was pending and is a clear conflict.

 

[Chelly]

Hello @Gardenista . You started this thread. Strange turn of events here. I am thinking Judge wants to be fair, but won't fall into Rowland's trap of stalling the trial

 

[Gardenista]

Hello @Gardenista . You started this thread. Strange turn of events here. I am thinking Judge wants to be fair, but won't fall into Rowland's trap of stalling the trial

I hope so, but judges usually err on the side of caution.

 

[Niner]

I hope so, but judges usually err on the side of caution.

But as the Judge said - Moore is/has a conflict of interest....

Let's get this trial on track!
Thanks for the tweets - @Chelly !

 

[Chelly]

Cathy Russon
@cathyrusson
·
15m
#FakeUberMurderTrial - UPDATE: Jury selection began this morning. We expect openings tomorrow HOWEVER, the defendant now wants to fire his public defender and told the judge his family will hire an attorney per
@StephenFastenau
.
@LawCrimeNetwork

 

[Chelly]

Thank YOU @Niner for managing that excellent timeline at such short notice. You have gone above and beyond.!!!!!

(per The Post and Courier link below)"...In the meantime, the judge said he wasn’t inclined to pause proceedings and that jury selection would proceed the afternoon of July 19..."

SC man accused in 'ride-hiring' murder of USC student seeks new lawyer

 

[Seattle1]

I think (hope) the defendant's family has finally seen the light and wants him to make a guilty plea and end this charade. However, seems to me that the defendant is remaining steadfast with his own family (mother especially) that he is innocent and that it's his attorney's fault that she has not produced a hint of evidence to exonerate him. DNA doesn't lie, dude. Tell the truth and end this...

 

[Chelly]

I think his defense will be that he passed out somewhere; someone stole his vehicle and committed the crime. I don't recall if LE found his DNA

 

[Chelly]

During the hearing, Judge Newman told Rowland neither he (Rowland) nor Rowland’s family have the money to hire a new lawyer as well as the expert witnesses that Rowland’s current attorneys have already retained.

https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/state/south-carolina/article252879053.html

 

[Chelly]

Cathy Russon
@cathyrusson
·
5m
Jury selection was not halted and has been going forward. The judge told the defendant if he really has a private attorney he better get that attorney to court asap. #FakeUberMurderTrial #NathanielRowland #SamanthaJosephson

 

[Seattle1]

I think his defense will be that he passed out somewhere; someone stole his vehicle and committed the crime. I don't recall if LE found his DNA

Found Deceased - SC - Samantha Josephson, 21, Columbia, thought she was getting into Uber, 29 Mar 2019 *Arrest* #2

 

[Seattle1]

I forgot there was a [cooperating] woman in the car with NR when he was arrested.

New details released, timeline created in kidnapping, homicide of USC student

 

[KatzEye]

I think his defense will be that he passed out somewhere; someone stole his vehicle and committed the crime. I don't recall if LE found his DNA

Yeah, he's already tried that. Didn't seem to fly back then.

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article228736824.html

The family and friends of a 24-year-old Clarendon County man say he couldn’t have been responsible for kidnapping and killing Samantha Josephson.

Nathaniel David Rowland was “passed out” at a house party the night Josephson was abducted in Five Points, said Trey Elmore, a cousin who lives in Texas. Someone else had taken his car.

“I don’t believe it was him in the car,” Elmore told The State. “They only assumed that because he ran (when he was pulled over the next day)."

 

[Chelly]

Stephen Fastenau
@StephenFastenau
·
36m
At the end of the first day in Nathaniel Rowland’s murder trial, Judge Clifton Newman asked if he was satisfied with his appointed defense team. Rowland gave Newman a thumb’s up. Final jury selection and opening statements are expected Tuesday.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 19, 2021
Suspect accused of killing Samantha Josephson asks for new attorney during jury selection (wistv.com)
[...]

Several potential jurors were dismissed due to concerns about COVID-19. Others were dismissed because they had heard about the case through media.

Jury selection reconvenes Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.

[...]

Nathaniel Rowland request new lawyer in murder trial | wltx.com
[...]

Over 750 people were called to the Richland County Judicial Center in downtown Columbia to be potential jurors. Due to the pandemic, the jury selection was split into two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

[...]

The case received national attention when it happened which usually complicates the jury-picking process. The incident was dubbed by some media outlets as the "Fake Uber" trial and led to calls for new safety measures for rideshare services. The jurors were asked how much they had heard about the case and if they could be impartial.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 19, 2021
Jury selection is on going for the trial involving the death of a USC student | WPDE
Judge Clifton Newman announced this trial would extend into next week.

Shay Simon on Twitter
NEW VIDEO: Nathanial Rowland leaving court today. Jury selection in his trial started this morning. He’s accused of kidnapping and killing former University of South Carolina student Samantha Josephson @wachfox
4:50 PM · Jul 19, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Shay Simon on Twitter
Jury selection continues tomorrow at 10 a.m. The judge tells us 16 jurors will be selected. 4 will be alternate jurors. @wachfox

4:53 PM · Jul 19, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, July 20th:
*Trial continues (Day 2) with jury selection (@ 10am ET) - SC - Samantha "Sami" Josephson (21) (last seen on video March 29, 2019 @ ~1:30am, Columbia, found Friday (3/29/21) afternoon in a rural area by turkey hunters in a field near a wooded area about 40 feet off a dirt road along Black Bottom Road close to the town of New Zion in Clarendon County) - *Nathaniel David Rowland (24/now 27) arrested & charged (3/30/19) & indicted (4/18/19) with murder, kidnapping, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, refusal to stop for police command, & possession of 28g or less of marijuana. Plead not guilty. Bond denied.
Trial began 7/19/21 with jury selection.
Case & court info from 3/30/19 thru 4/20/21 reference post #391 here:
Found Deceased - SC - Samantha Josephson, 21, Columbia, thought she was getting into Uber, 29 Mar 2019 *Arrest* #2
7/19/21 Monday, Jury selection Day 1: Potential jurors filled a third-floor courtroom in Richland County courthouse as jury selection began in Nathaniel Rowland’s murder trial. COVID-19 protocols still in place here & masks required. Rowland appeared before Judge Clifton Newman about 12:30pm & said he wasn’t satisfied by his defense from public defender Tracy Pinnock & said his family has been in touch with another attorney to represent him. Pressed by Judge Newman why he wasn’t satisfied with Tracy Pinnock’s work, Rowland said she was unprepared & disorderly. Pinnock, with the public defender’s office 13 years, told Newman she had represented Rowland to the best of her ability. Judge will decide what happens. He’s asked that the attorney Rowland has said his family wants to hire appear in court to clarify whether she has been retained. Said of Rowland or his family had the ability to hire private defense, they would have by now. Judge Newman told Rowland the State has spent thousands on his defense & expert witnesses & that he is inclined to move forward. Also noted the attorney Rowland wants to hire, Debra Moore, worked in the solicitor’s office while Rowland’s case was pending & is a clear conflict. He later agreed to proceed to trial & keep his current public defenders. Less than 100 potential jurors left. Over 750 people were called to the Richland County Judicial Center in downtown Columbia to be potential jurors. Due to the pandemic, the jury selection was split into two sessions, one in the morning & one in the afternoon. Several potential jurors were dismissed due to concerns about COVID-19. Others were dismissed because they had heard about the case through media. The judge says 16 jurors will be selected. 4 will be alternate jurors. Jury selection reconvenes Tuesday morning at 10am. Final jury selection and opening statements are expected Tuesday. Trial continues with jury selection on 7/20/21.