Pictured, 62-year old Douglas Every is on trial for Second Degree murder and Evidence Tampering for the alleged murder of 39-year-old Milton Jump, who resided with him at his Thorn Hollow Road residence in the Town of Tioga, Tioga County. (File Photo)
After two days, and the over one hundred jurors arrived who were called to serve during the trial of Douglas Every, a well-known realtor from the Town of Tioga in Tioga County, N.Y., 12 jurors and four alternates were finally seated on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014.
Sixty-two year old Douglas Every is on trial for the alleged murder of 39-year old Milton Jump, who was found in Douglas Every’s Thorn Hollow Road residence with a fatal kitchen knife wound to his chest.
Douglas Every was also charged with evidence tampering, according to court documents, for an alleged attempt to remove evidence from the weapon that rendered the fatal wound to Milton Jump.
Prosecuting the case, with Tioga County Judge Gerald Keene presiding, is District Attorney Kirk Martin with assistance from Prosecuting Attorney Eric Gartenman. George Awad is representing Douglas Every with assistance from Attorney Thomas Cline.
At approximately 4 p.m., the search for alternate jurors was complete, and the court moved immediately into opening statements after Tioga County Judge Gerald Keene gave the jurors their instructions.
The jury was also warned that some of the evidence presented would be graphic, to include the autopsy of Milton Jump.
Pictured, is Milton Jump, age 39, who died from a knife wound to the heart on Oct. 23, 2013 at the home of Douglas Every located on Thorn Hollow Road in the Town of Tioga, Tioga County. (File Photo)
The District Attorney, Kirk Martin, also told the jury that the evidence to be presented would prove that Douglas Every murdered Milton Jump.
Martin explained that Milton Jump and Douglas Every had a relationship several years ago that was severed, and that Milton Jump and someone he was caring for were displaced from their Glenmary Drive apartment and moved into a FEMA trailer following the flood in 2011.
Martin further explained that prior to the Oct. 23, 2013 date of the alleged murder, Douglas Every allowed Milton Jump and the man that he cared for to stay at his home, as they had to leave their FEMA trailer.
Martin explained that the defendant and victim had known each other for many years, and that drinking was involved in the events of that evening; and that Milton Jump was found on the kitchen floor with a four and a half inch fatal wound from a knife that severed his heart.
In his argument, Martin told the jury that Douglas Every walked across Milton Jump’s lifeless body to clean off the knife that killed him.
The defense in the case, on the other hand, is stating that the act was self-defense. They told the jury that Milton Jump and Douglas Every were arguing, and that Douglas Every went outside.
Attorney Awad added that the power went out, and when he went to turn the power back on, Milton Jump assumed an argument.
“It was self defense,” said Awad.
Awad also stated to the jury that the burden of proof is on the district attorney, and that his defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty.
The trial will continue at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 14 at the Tioga County Courthouse located in Owego, N.Y.
Douglas Every continues to remain free on $225,000 bond, and if convicted of the Second Degree murder charge could face 25 years to life in prison. The court also estimated that the trial could take up to a week, or longer.
