Edwards trial juror: Tapes of defendants’ wiretapped conversations convincing

Thursday, May 11, 2000 | 10:55 a.m.

"The tapes definitely made the decision for me," juror Kimberly Hamilton told The Advocate newspaper of Baton Rouge.

Hamilton, an elementary school teacher, was the first juror to speak publically about the case.

She also said in an interview Wednesday that she believed three government witnesses who made deals with the government and testified about Edwards' role in extorting kickbacks from riverboat casino license applicants.

Former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr., former Treasure Chest casino owner Bobby Guidry and former Edwards' family friend Richard Shetler got leniency in return for pleading guilty and testifying for the prosecution.

"I took the plea bargains seriously and felt they testified truthfully and honestly," Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the high point in the trial was Edwards' testimony. But the former governor's explanation that he took money as part of legitimate consulting work didn't sway jury members.

"I don't know that his taking the stand helped him at all," Hamilton said said.

Jurors fought back the urge to laugh at some of the jokes Edwards delivered from the witness stand, she said.

"We knew we were being watched. We didn't want things to be read into our reactions," she said.

Hamilton said she voted to acquit state Gaming Control Board member Ecotry Fuller and state Sen. Greg Tarver, D-Shreveport, because prosecutors failed to make a case against them.