Jury Selection Underway In Barbara Pill Murder Trial
By Space Coast Daily // February 24, 2014
Brandon Bradley could be sentenced to death
ABOVE VIDEO: Brandon Bradley, 22, is accused of killing Deputy Pill as she responded to a call on March 6, 2012 during a traffic stop. Deputy Pill, 53, pulled over Bradley and his passenger, Andria Kerchner, on suspicion of theft. During the ensuing car chase with law enforcement, Bradley crashed his Ford Explorer into a roadside drainage ditch.
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The trial of the accused killer of Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy Barbara Pill began today with jury selection in Courtroom 4A of the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Justice Center in Viera.
Brandon Bradley, 22, is accused of killing Deputy Pill as she responded to a call on March 6, 2012 during a traffic stop. Deputy Pill, 53, pulled over Bradley and his passenger, Andria Kerchner, on suspicion of theft.
According to the charges, during the traffic stop Bradley opened fire, hitting Deputy Pill several times in the face.
During the ensuing car chase with law enforcement, Bradley crashed his Ford Explorer into a roadside drainage ditch. Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputies then arrested Bradley and Kerchner, and charged them both with first-degree murder.
Deputy Pill had been in law enforcement for 30 years and served 15 years with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department.
Kerchner, 19, was in the vehicle with Bradley at the time of the shooting. She took a plea deal last month, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. As part of the plea, in which she avoided a life sentence, Kerchner agreed to testify against Bradley during the upcoming trial, which could last up to five weeks.
BRADLEY DECLINED PLEA DEAL
According to authorities, Bradley has an extensive criminal background and had four active warrants for his arrest at the time of Deputy Pill’s death. Charged with first degree premeditated murder, Bradley declined a plea deal earlier this month, and if convicted, could be sentenced to death.
Judge Morgan Reinman is bringing in about 50 people a day in an effort to find 12 jurors and alternates. Jurors will be asked to reach a verdict, and if they find Bradley guilty, will be asked to give a recommendation on whether he should be executed.
Bradley appeared in a suit this morning before Judge Morgan Reinman as prosecutors and defense attorneys along with the judge began asking jurors about their feelings on the death penalty.
One potential juror said she was strongly in favor of the death penalty, and was quickly dismissed.
Judge Reinman is bringing in about 50 people a day in an effort to find 12 jurors and alternates. Jurors will be asked to reach a verdict, and if they find Bradley guilty, will be asked to give a recommendation on whether he should be executed.
Jury selection is expected to last through the end of this week, with testimony scheduled to begin next week.
