Sep 6, 2006 6:31 pm US/Central
Ryan Juror Says Sentencing Fair
Only Juror To Attend Sentencing Says Judge 'As Fair As She Could Be'
by Joanie Lum
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Turmoil erupted during the deliberations and rocked the trial of former
Gov. George Ryan when two people were dismissed.
CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports that the only person from that jury who came to the former governor's sentencing said the judge was fair.
Kevin Rien was juror number 72 from Glen Ellyn. He attended the sentencing because, he said "A year ago we started the civics lesson. I wanted to see it through."
Rein was also one of the jurors who participated in a news conference immediately following former Gov. Ryan's conviction in April. Wednesday he was supposed to be joined by other jurors at the sentencing, but they could not get time off from their jobs.
Rein declined to go on camera, but on the record he said, "
Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer was as fair as she could be. Thank God we (the jury) didn't have to consider sentencing."
When the trial started, Kevin Rein said the governor and his friends were portrayed as good buddies.
"Like our fathers... cigars and saloons," he said. "You go from that to, is it a death sentence?"
He also addressed Gov. Ryan's apparent lack of remorse.
"You got the feeling that was his personality, not to admit to things."
Rein said he felt some sympathy for
Lura Lynn Ryan, and that fellow jurors wanted someone to be at the sentencing to get an idea of what would really happen. He sat in the overflow room and said that to sit in the courtroom and look directly at Gov. Ryan and his family would have been difficult.
Rein said he will give his report to the other jurors at an undisclosed location some time later tonight.
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