By Grace Schneider
gschneider@courier-journal.com
A Harrison County grand jury was selected Tuesday to review evidence in the death last year of former county Jail Commander Christine Britton.
Special Prosecutor Nancy Jacobs said the target of the proceedings is John Britton, Christine Britton’s husband and a county police officer. John Britton was at the couple’s Ramsey home when his wife died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March 2009.
John Britton will testify before the panel, said his lawyer, Stan Faith of New Albany. He “has absolutely nothing to hide,” Faith said.
John Britton, who is on unpaid leave, has told investigators that on the day of his wife’s death, the couple had been arguing and that he placed his handgun on their bed and left the room, only to hear the fatal shot moments later.
According to court records, Britton insisted to state police detectives that he never thought his 28-year-old wife, then working as a corrections officer, would kill herself.
But her relatives have questioned whether his actions amounted to assisting a suicide, and they hired a lawyer last year to press for answers.
Harrison Superior Court Judge Roger Davis mentioned during grand jury selection Tuesday that some of the proceedings may involve assisting a suicide.
“That would be a potential offense,” Jacobs said, indicating that other criminal violations also could be considered.
Jacobs said the witness list for the grand jury includes three state police investigators, two county police officers, county Coroner Rusty Sizemore and Mike Andry, a former corrections officer and friend of Christine Britton with whom she spoke shortly before the shooting.
Grand jury proceedings are conducted behind closed doors.
Christine Britton’s relatives, meantime, have indicated they intend to proceed with a wrongful-death lawsuit against the county. The family notified county officials last year that they intend to seek damages in excess of $700,000.
Reporter Grace Schneider can be reached at (812) 949-4040.
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