After continuation, Thornhill's murder trial begins again four years after Mount Dora killing
TAVARES — Attorneys started sifting through a pool of prospective jurors Wednesday for Ryan Thornhill, who killed a Mount Dora barber in 2017 when he refused to cut his hair for $2.
Thornhill, 40, is facing a first-degree murder charge for the shooting death of Wilfredo Nieves in 2017.
The lawyers and Circuit Judge G. Richard Singeltary hope the second time will be the charm — the jury pool for the initially scheduled trial in August ran dry.
Read more on the trial: Ryan Thornhill's murder trial begins, four years after Mount Dora barbershop killing
Continued: Thornhill trial continued after jury pool runs dry
Would-be jurors were already spooked by COVID-19, but the case itself complicated things, too. There was only witness testimony – no physical evidence – and Thornhill is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity.
“I think this was a difficult case,” Assistant State Attorney Ryan Williams told the Commercial after the trial was continued.
Many in the original group of 60, told stories about their families being ravaged by addiction and mental illness.
One woman said she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and was bipolar.
A man cried after disclosing his wife had a nervous breakdown, that his daughter had been raped, and that he had been beaten in a robbery.
Deputy Clerk Terry Shafer has assembled a bigger pool this time — 186, of which about 100 will show.
“That’s about our average since COVID,” she said.
If necessary, up to about 400 others can be called in until 12, plus alternates, are selected.
Defense experts will opine that Thornhill suffers from various mental illnesses, and that he was prescribed medications which worsened his condition. Family members are expected to talk about his bizarre thought patterns, including thinking he was a genius and being obsessed with puzzles.
“There was a lot of preoccupation with darkness,” one family member said in a deposition.
The Public Defender’s Office acknowledges that Thornhill shot Wilfredo Nieves, but say he was insane at the time.
Prosecutors argue Thornhill was under the influence of alcohol on April 14, 2017. Witnesses say he was holding a brown bottle and staggered while being escorted out of The Giants Barber Shop on Old Highway 441 after Nieves told him he wouldn't cut his hair for $2.
Thornhill came back 15 minutes later and shot Nieves in the back of the head.
Police arrived to find people screaming, punching, and wrestling for the gun. Thornhill, who was knocked unconscious, told police he did not remember anything.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Thornhill will be sentenced to prison for life without the possibility of parole. If the jury determines that he was insane, he will be sent to a mental hospital until he is found to be cured.
The trial could take up to two weeks to complete.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Thornhill trial begins, pleading not guilty by reason of insanity
