An Aurora man found guilty of trying to kill his estranged wife’s new romantic interest while wearing one of her dresses is seeking a new trial in part because a juror claimed she was pressured into convicting him, according to documents filed in Kane County Circuit Court.
Jermaine Baker, 40, put on a wig and his then-wife’s dress, sneaked into the sleeping boyfriend’s Aurora duplex, and shot the man three times in the head in 2014, prosecutors said. Baker and the woman have since divorced.
Bullets struck the man in the cheek, jaw and forehead, as well as his hands, prosecutors said. He survived the shooting.
Throughout about nine hours of deliberations leading up to the Jan. 25 verdict convicting Baker of attempted murder, home invasion, and three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, the juror told other jurors she believed Baker was not guilty and wasn’t going to change her mind, she stated in a March 29 affidavit. The juror stated she was told if Baker were acquitted, that would mean two Aurora police officers who testified at trial were lying.
“I felt pressured by other members of the jury into voting guilty, and the duress was overwhelming,” the juror stated in the document.
The juror, who could not be reached for comment, still believes Baker is innocent, according to the affidavit.
“Although this issue is unusual, it is not unique, and the trial and appellate courts in Illinois have dealt with it in the past,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said in an emailed statement. “However, now that this defendant has put the issue in a post-trial motion I am unable to comment on specifics of the case. We will, of course, respond formally in court.”
Reached by phone Thursday, Baker’s attorney, Marc Wolfe, said he could not comment on any ongoing aspect of the case.
Baker first filed for a new trial or judgment in late February. Sometime after that, Wolfe got a letter from a juror stating she felt “pushed into saying guilty.” This month, Wolfe filed a motion to add the juror issue to the retrial motion.
The case is next due in court May 24 for sentencing.
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