What do you guys think?

[ May 14, 2001: Message edited by: Paul Ibekwe ]

Jury Is Chosen in Polygamy Case.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 9:10 p.m. ET

PROVO, Utah (AP) -- A jury of five women and three men was chosen Monday to hear what is believed to be the country's first polygamy trial in nearly five decades.

At least three of the jurors had already heard of Tom Green, who lives with his five wives and 25 children in the Utah desert and has been a fixture in national media.

Green, 52, faces four counts of bigamy and one count of failing to pay child support. If convicted he could serve up to 25 years in prison and pay fines of up to $25,000.

Green also is charged separately with child rape because he allegedly married a 13-year-old. That trial has not been scheduled.

Green's media presence had raised questions as to whether an untainted jury pool could be found.

Indeed, Green's quest for publicity may have landed him in court in the first place.

He and his family have repeatedly appeared on national television, including an appearance Monday morning on CBS' ``The Early Show.''

But 4th District Judge Guy Burningham, who spent most of Monday individually screening jurors in a private conference room, said he is satisfied with the jury.

``I think we have a ... fair and impartial jury to hear the facts of the case,'' he said.

At least three potential jurors were rejected because they are strongly opposed to polygamy.

One of the disqualified jurors said he had seen Green on television and formed an opinion: ``I feel like we've got a polygamist here,'' he said. Names of potential jurors have been withheld by the court.

``I've seen it on TV, I feel like my tax dollars are going to this. It gave me the willies when all those little girls (Green's wives) came in this morning with all those little kids,'' the man said.

Attorneys were concerned about potential jurors' attitudes toward polygamy, which was brought to Utah by the Mormon pioneers in the 1840s. It was banned by the Utah Constitution and abandoned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints more than 100 years ago.

Many Utah residents -- including the prosecutor in Green's case, Juab County Attorney David Leavitt -- can trace their ancestry to polygamists. Leavitt is Gov. Mike Leavitt's younger brother.

Two of the prospective jurors questioned Monday morning said they have had direct contact with polygamists, one through a co-worker and another who had polygamist neighbors. Both were rejected.

Why do you want to cause a rift between my sister and I? Do you want to finish what your people started between us and our south South neighbours? e no go work oh, lai lai !

Anyway "rumour" had it that the late MKO had a harem at his disposal and could afford a different lass for every night in a calendar month; and they were all legally bound to him. How did that guy manage?, because apparently some of the lasses are head-strong career journalists et al.

All,

Is it true that it was envy of MKO's record that drove sani to an untimely death as he tried a Viagra fuelled threesome with foreign tarts? I had read in some Oduduwa tabloids that his opting for a General's Erection as opposed to a General Election cost him his life.

Bababoyz,
You are in the luck. My radical side is active today.
I think bigamy can be fun...depending on who's practising it, and with whom. Should I decide to be a bigamist, I'd make two careful choices. Sorry, Ednut is out. Viagra can ony do so much. My total and absolute satisfaction should be a guarantee.

You introduced two very dangerous dimensions to this discourse from my point of view:

By publicly rejecting Ednut out of the choice of 2 blokes, you've set me up for a hate campaign which may border on jealousy. Please, I'm the only son of my mother that earns forex oh!

Secondly, you erroneously inferred that I like MKO's style. Nothing could be farther from the truth as the only thing I liked about MKO was his incarceration.

Bro Amucha,
Have you joined that foxy Bababoyz in leg-pulling?

Too many reasons for my objection;., There is no love in that family especially from your father. You never get to spend quality time with your father.
It is confusing to focus your attention to several women rather than one. No woman wants to share her husband with another woman. To me it is sheer slavery of women and perpetuates male domination of women. In addition, it is high maintainance to provide for two or three women with children.

Please don't get me wrong the sex could be good, ain't nothing wrong having great fantasy. However, I would not encourage marriage but fantasy.

My objection is based on three things, lack of one and one love from father, economy and slavery of women. I say outlaw it.

Hail Biafra