Love Note Causes Drama in Court

An alternate juror’s apparent crush on a judicial marshal caused some drama in the courtroom on Monday morning.

Only one alternate juror remains as the jury listens to testimony to decide if Steven Hayes’ will be sentenced to death or life in prison for killing Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, Hayley, 17, and Michaela, 11, while invading their Cheshire home in 2007.

On Monday, emotional testimony in the penalty phase took was put on hold for emotion of a different kind after a clerk intercepted a note a juror wrote to a marshal, suggesting a day and time for a possible date.

The juror, giggling and red in the face, was embarrassed when she was called out.

"Forgive my Frenchness but this a g-damn dumb thing to do," Judge Jon Blue told the juror.

The defense called for her to be removed and said she's obviously not paying attention to case while developing love interest.

Blue refused and said he needs the alternate, but warned the jury that they are under the public eye.

The marshal and juror have never met before, Blue said. The marshal did nothing wrong and was reassigned. Follow us on Twitter @NBCConnecticut,  on Facebook, and sign up for breaking news SMS alerts on your phone by texting “CTBREAKING” to 622669.

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