Closing arguments were overshadowed Monday in the murder trial of Jerome Power as he grabbed a cup of water and poured it over his attorney’s head, catching the attorney, the judge and deputies off guard. Power, 50, of Cedar Rapids, poured water on attorney Steve Addington just as the jurors were being excused to start deliberations in his first-degree murder trial.
“It should have been a mistrial,” Power said after dumping the water on Addington. “You sold me out!”
The deputies quickly responded but reacted too late to prevent Addington, of Des Moines, from getting wet. The jury started deliberations just after noon Monday and were sent home about 4:30 p.m. They will resume deliberations 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in Linn County District Court.
Power, charged with first-degree murder, is accused of strangling to death Doris Bevins, 68, in her home Sept. 19, 2010. Police found Power hiding inside behind the entry door as they responded to the 911 call from Bevin’s friend who was talking on the phone to her when she was assaulted that night.
Power dumped the water on Addington in front of the jurors who had just stood up to leave and start deliberations. Most
of them looked surprised and the ones stepping down from the jury box abruptly stopped to see what was happening.
of them looked surprised and the ones stepping down from the jury box abruptly stopped to see what was happening.
Power seemed agitated and defiant throughout Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden’s closing argument, mumbling under his breath and at one time blurting out a comment, but Vander Sanden didn’t miss a beat and just continued his argument.
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