Barrel bodies jury finalists warned of graphic evidence
Olathe ? Allegations of rough sex, lies and videotape punctuated questioning Wednesday as jury selection continued for the multiple murder case against John E. Robinson Sr.
Attorneys eliminated seven of 40 jurors after more than five hours of questioning. Those dismissed included a Secret Service agent, director of a domestic violence shelter and a woman with early stages of Alzheimer’s.
Another 43 people will be questioned today, with the final selection of 12 jurors and five alternates set for Friday. Attorneys need a pool of at least 51 from which to pick the jury, with each side allowed to “strike” jurors they find objectionable.
Opening arguments are scheduled to begin Monday in the trial, which is expected to last as long as six weeks.
Robinson, 58, is charged with the deaths of three women, including two who were found in barrels on his property in Linn County.
He also is charged in Missouri with the deaths of two women and a girl who were found in barrels in a Raymore, Mo., storage locker.
Jurors were asked whether they have any special knowledge of the case or relationships with people involved, including witnesses and attorneys.
Sean O’Brien, one of the two court-appointed attorneys representing Robinson, directed his questions to how much credibility jurors placed upon testimony from police, as well as their predisposition to issues of Robinson’s alleged involvement in bondage, discipline and sadomasochistic sex.
“It’s not the kind of thing we normally talk about,” O’Brien said. “It’s not something that is in the realm of our experiences.”
O’Brien said evidence of Robinson’s numerous affairs and relationships with women outside of his marriage would be discussed during the trial. In addition, he added, jurors could expect to see excerpts of a videotape of Robinson engaged in BDSM activities with one of the victims.
Johnson County Dist. Atty. Paul Morrison said jurors needed to be prepared for the graphic nature of the evidence.
“This case is not about what somebody’s sex practices are,” Morrison said. “The charges are about kidnapping, homicide and these types of things.”
More than 1,200 potential jurors were summoned for the case last month the largest-ever jury pool for a Kansas trial.




