Oprah jury finds murderer guilty

A JURY that included TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey convicted a man of murder after a trial that turned into a media frenzy because of the billionaire in the jury box.

Jurors deliberated for more than two hours before convicting 27-year-old Dion Coleman of first-degree murder in the February 2002 shooting death of 23-year-old Walter Holley. Coleman will be sentenced in September and could face 45 years to life in prison. “It’s a huge reality check, there’s a whole other world going on out there ... when your life intersects with others in this way, it is forever changed,” Ms Winfrey said outside the Chicago courtroom, flanked by jurors.

Winfrey, who was paid $17.20 (€14) a day for her civic duty, said she plans to do a show about the trial next week with other jurors. Ms Winfrey’s selection as a juror drew massive attention to the trial. Media chronicled her moves outside and inside the court.