Sem waives his right to jury trial

The Fairfield Ledger/April 15, 2005
By Erik Gable

Shuvender Sem, the 25-year-old former Maharishi University of Management student charged with murdering a fellow student in March 2004, has waived his right to a jury trial.

The decision means Sem will be tried by a single judge rather than by a 12-person jury.

In court documents filed today, defense attorneys Alfredo Parrish and Tammy Westhoff-Gentry said Sem appears to understand the decision to waive his right to a jury trial.

The attorneys said Sem will be evaluated by William Logan, a mental health expert from St. Louis, Mo., to make sure he is capable of understanding the decision. They asked the judge to accept Sem's waiver if the expert believes he understands.

For a complete story, read the April 15 Fairfield Ledger.