Grim reality for death penalty TV

The only method of execution in Ohio is lethal injection

Jury deliberations in a death penalty case are to be shown in a new television documentary in the US.

Cameras were given permission to film the jury room in the case of a man charged with a double murder in Ohio.

It is the first time cameras have been allowed to film deliberations in a murder case that could result in the death penalty.

Mark Ducic, the man at the centre of the case, was eventually spared execution after his trial in June.

Emotional

The ABC News series, called In The Jury Room, will be shown in hour-long programmes on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

It follows the Ducic case over a three-month period from pre-trial preparations through to the trial and the verdict, handed down in June.

The jury room footage reveals the emotions and frustrations felt by jurors.

Producer Michael Bicks said: "What I like to do is take people places they've never been before.

Hopefully people on both sides of the issue can look at this and walk away with something Michael Bicks, producer

"And people have never been taken into a jury room for a capital murder case."

"The greatest power we give a citizen in this democracy is to go in a jury room and decide whether someone is going to live and die.

"It's such a polarizing issue. Hopefully people on both sides of the issue can look at this and walk away with something."

Chris Davey, spokesman for the Supreme Court of Ohio, said the court already provided coverage of all its proceedings live on the internet.

He added: "We're very hopeful that this will be another positive step forward in increasing the public understanding of the process, thereby building further public trust and confidence."