3 min readClearwater,floridaDec 7, 2010 01:23 AM IST
First published on: Dec 7, 2010 at 01:23 AM IST
When John Ditullio goes on trial on Monday,jurors will not see the large swastika tattooed on his neck. Or any of the other markings he has acquired since being jailed on charges related to a double stabbing that wounded a woman and killed a teenager in 2006.
Ditullios lawyer successfully argued that the tattoos could be distracting or prejudicial to the jurors,who under the law are supposed to consider only facts presented to them. The case shows some of the challenges lawyers face when trying to get clients ready for trial whether that means hitting the consignment shop for decent clothes for an impoverished client or telling wealthy clients to leave the bling at home.
Its easier to give someone who looks like you a fair shake, said Bjorn E Brunvand,Ditullios lawyer. The court approved the judicial equivalent of an extreme makeover,paying 125 a day for the services of a cosmetologist to cover up the tattoos that Ditullio has gotten since his arrest. This is Ditullios second trial for the murder; the first ended last year in a mistrial. If convicted,he could face the death penalty.
Theres no doubt in my mind,without the makeup being used,theres no way a jury could look at John and judge him fairly, Brunvand said. Its too frightening. Hence the cosmetologist. Chele,the owner of the company performing the work,said the process takes about 45 minutes. The cosmetologist asked that she not be identified. We mostly do weddings, she said. Colleen Quinn-Adams,a private investigator working on the case with Brunvand,said she had had to call 10 cosmetologists before finding one willing to take on this particular client.
Brunvand said inmates might tattoo themselves for many reasons: some may do so to project a more menacing appearance and to show affiliation with groups that might protect them.
Charlene Bricken,the mother of the young man Ditullio is accused of killing,Kristofer King,said she was outraged that the defendant would receive a court-approved makeover. Did somebody tie him down while he was in jail and put these tattoos on him? she asked angrily. Bricken said that she had no doubt Ditullio was guilty he sent a taunting Christmas card to the family from prison. JOHN SCHWARTZ
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