DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — As the jury deliberated in the murder trial of Herman James “Bo” Seppenfield Monday morning, there was an interesting development outside Judge Jason Deal’s courtroom.

Seppenfield has been charged with felony murder, malice murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting death of 37-year-old Brandon Weaver of Dawson County.

But before court was called into session, Wendi Lee Howard, reported to court officials that she overheard a man, later identified as Louis Darnell, speaking to one of the jurors.

With the jury outside the courtroom, Deal called Howard to testify. Howard swore under oath that as she entered the courthouse she heard Darnell tell a juror, “Please do me a favor and find him guilty.”

Darnell then came to the witness stand and testified that he made no such comment. The juror, identified only as Juror 36, was also called to testify and he, too, said Mr. Darnell had made no such comment to him.

Court then went into recess to await the jury’s verdict and Howard was led away in handcuffs.