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Henson defense rests without calling Schurick
Jurors could begin deliberations in the election fraud case against political consultant Julius Henson as early as Wednesday morning after the defense rested its case on Tuesday in Baltimore City Circuit Court.
Henson wrapped up his third day of testimony on Tuesday, logging a total of more than six hours on the witness stand. The defense rested without calling Paul Schurick, who was former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.’s 2010 campaign manager.
The state then called rebuttal witnesses before the jury wrapped up early for the day, around 3:00.
Judge Emanuel Brown told the jury — made up of seven women and five men, 10 of them black, with four alternates — that they could expect to begin deliberations Wednesday afternoon.
Henson, 63, faces two counts of conspiracy to violate election laws, one count of election fraud and one count of violating the authority line requirement for his role in causing automated “robocalls” to Democrat voters on Election Day 2010, telling them they could “relax” and stay home because Gov. Martin O’Malley had “been successful” in his re-election bid. It is believed to be the first trial under the amended law.
Schurick was indicted along with Henson and was convicted in November. Schurick’s lawyer, A. Dwight Pettit, was on hand in the courtroom Tuesday afternoon in case his client was called. Schurick’s conviction is being appealed.
