Judge excuses potential juror in the Jason Young murder retrial

RALEIGH -- A Wake County Superior Court judge on Thursday removed a potential juror for the Jason Young murder trial after learning that the man had posted a comment to a website announcing that he and another prospective juror would be "the worst jurors ever."

"The public expects that we pick the best jurors ever, not the worst jurors ever," Judge Donald Stephens said. "In my discretion, you're excused."

The decision capped hours of uncertainty after the issue was raised at midday Wednesday.

Bryan Collins, Wake County's chief public defender, who represents Young, asked Stephens for permission to ask more questions of the man who both prosecutors and defense attorneys had agreed could be seated on the jury. He was concerned about questionable comments the prospective juror posted to The Wolf Web, an unofficial N.C. State University message board.

Jury selection is particularly sensitive in this case. The first trial ended in a hung jury when jurors deadlocked 8-4 in favor of acquittal.

Young, a medical software salesman, is accused of killing his pregnant wife in November 2006. Jason Young and Michelle Young, whose bludgeoned body was found in the master bedroom of the couple's Wake County home, both graduated from NCSU.