The discussion on the future of ex-Vanderbilt football players Brandon Vandenburg and Cory Batey has been postponed. Nashville Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins has declared a mistrial in the rape case convictions for Vandenburg and Batey. According to TheTennessean.com, Judge Watkins discovered that a juror was a victim of statutory rape, which wasn’t initially disclosed, deeming them biased stating that they could not have been impartial due to the type of case. This ruling comes two-years to the day that the rape took place.
“Our system of justice cannot tolerate a trial with a tainted juror regardless of the strength of the evidence against the defendant,” Watkins’ order, released Tuesday afternoon, reads. “Applying the above legal standard and looking at the totality of the circumstances, the Court finds that the proof and arguments presented at the (mistrial) hearing provides enough evidence that granting a new trial is necessary and appropriate in order to promote a fair determination of the defendants’ guilt or innocence.”
Vandenburg and Batey, both former football players at Vanderbilt,were convicted of multiple counts of aggravated rape, aggravated sexual battery as well as other charges. The defense attorneys will gather Wednesday with plans of requesting bonds to be reinstated and to seek a new trail date.
