Court: Wrong Jury Oath Doesn’t Spoil Murder Convictions

DETROIT (AP) – The Michigan Supreme Court has reinstated the murder convictions of a Detroit-area man, even though the trial started with jurors taking the wrong oath.

In a 5-2 decision Thursday, the court says the wrong oath did not affect the integrity of Brandon Cain’s trial in 2012.

Cain was convicted of killing two women and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Abreeya Brown and Ashley Conaway were stuffed in a car trunk at gunpoint before they were killed.

As the trial was starting, a court clerk gave the wrong oath to jurors. They were given an oath that’s typically used when jurors are interviewed during the selection process.

The error was discovered by attorney Kristina Dunne, who was scouring the trial transcript for issues that could be raised on appeal.
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