Attorney's tactic explored testimony

Attorney's tactic explored testimony

I have been asked to comment on the Jackson County Circuit Court case involving Sunshine Sweetwater Bucy, who was recently tried on a single charge of sex abuse involving a 10-year-old girl. The charge stemmed from events that allegedly occurred at a party at Bucy's home in Ashland on July 31, 2010. On May 20, the jury deadlocked 6—6.

An article in the Mail Tribune on May 26, entitled "Mattress display outrages mother, advocates," discussed whether it was proper for the bed involved in the alleged crime to have been brought into the courtroom to be used during questioning. The story implied that this line of questioning, and the use of the bed, were emotionally stressful for the now 11-year-old witness. It included quotations by a Children's Advocacy Center spokeswoman, who claimed the courtroom questioning was more abusive than the alleged crime.