Clay County judge declines to order sequestered jury for Andrew Lester’s trial in October

A Clay County judge ruled Thursday that jurors in the high-profile trial against Andrew Lester, the Kansas City man charged in the shooting of Ralph Yarl last April, won’t be sequestered during the proceedings this fall.

In a brief hearing Thursday in Clay County Circuit Court, Lester’s attorney, Steven Salmon, made the request of Judge David Chamberlain, pointing to what is expected to be widespread news coverage that jurors could be exposed to, as well as what he characterized as “misleading facts” in the coverage that could skew their perspective on the case.

“Given the widespread interest in this case, jurors will undoubtedly be subject to news reports and opinions through all avenues of reporting,” Salmon wrote in court documents ahead of the hearing.

“This leaves anything other than the complete elimination of the significant, pervasive and opinionated reporting involving this matter as the most viable way to guarantee the defendant a fair trial on the facts of the case,” he said in the filing.

Salmon also noted that jury sequestration is mandatory in Missouri death penalty cases. Given Lester’s age — 85 — and physical condition, a conviction could be a death sentence, with his client dying in prison, he said.

Lester was not present at Thursday’s hearing.

Chamberlain acknowledged the concerns were valid but declined to order that jurors be sequestered. He emphasized that jurors would be sworn to not consume outside material related to the case and would be reminded of that duty regularly during the trial.

He also said arranging the logistics of accommodations, food, security and other considerations would require pushing back the trial substantially, noting that hotel arrangements for jurors in a death penalty case he is scheduled to oversee in September 2025 were being scheduled now.

Lester’s trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 7.

Based on estimates from Salmon and Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson, Chamberlain projected testimony would play out over three days. Before that begins, attorneys may have to sift through hundreds of prospective jurors given the high profile nature of the case.

“You’re probably not going to find anyone who hasn’t heard something about this case,” Chamberlain said.

The April 2023 shooting in Kansas City’s Northland grabbed widespread attention, and many raised concerns that the shooting was racially motivated.

Lester, who is white, faces first-degree assault and armed criminal charges for shooting Yarl, who is Black, after the teen mistakenly went to the wrong home to pick up his brothers. After Yarl rang the doorbell, Lester allegedly went to the door and fired at Yarl, shooting him twice. He told police he feared for his safety when he saw Yarl, who at the time of the shooting was 16.

Lester’s next pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 30.