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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Ind. Courts - Prosecutor named in Harrison County case

A story by Alan Stewart today in The Corydon Democrat includes these quotes:

The special prosecutor in the sexual harassment case against Harrison County Sheriff G. Michael Deatrick also has been named as the special prosecutor in the case of John Britton, an officer with the Harrison County Sheriff's Department who allegedly provided the means by which his wife allegedly shot herself.

Harrison Superior Court Judge Roger D. Davis announced last Wednesday afternoon that Switzerland County Prosecutor Nancy Jacobs will handle the Britton case. * * *

On Oct. 27, Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney Dennis Byrd filed a petition for the appointment of a special prosecutor to look into the case against Britton. The petition said the appointment of a special prosecutor was necessary to avoid the appearance of impropriety and/or a conflict of interest.

Byrd's request said that on Sept. 24 and Oct. 6, 20 and 27, he consulted with the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council to discuss the ethical duties and responsibilities created by a tort claim against Harrison County filed by the estate of Christine Britton. * * *

The tort claim was filed Sept. 17 in Harrison Circuit Court on behalf of the estate of Christine Britton, who died of an alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound in March at the couple's home near Ramsey.

Charlotte Hitner, Christine Britton's mother, is serving as the personal representative of her daughter's estate for the sole purpose of bringing a wrongful death action on behalf of Christine Britton's 13-year-old daughter. The claimant anticipates the damage to be in excess of $700,000, but per Indiana Code, the $700,000 amount is the maximum allowed by law.

Indiana State Police investigators said that during questioning John Britton admitted leaving a handgun in the room after his wife threatened to shoot herself.

Byrd's petition said that both the Indiana State Police and the Kentucky Medical Examiner determined that the cause of Christine Britton's death was suicide.

John Britton remains on indefinite administrative leave.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 24, 2009 10:10 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts