Court says no new trial for Anand Jon, upholds conviction

Los Angeles, Jul 8 (PTI) High profile India-born fashion
designer Anand Jon, convicted for sexually assaulting upcoming
models lost his appeal for a fresh trial in his case after a
court here dismissed the request sought on grounds that a
juror had improperly contacted his sister.

The lawyers for Jon had requested for a new trial citing
the misconduct but the Los Angeles County judge ruled that the
juror's contact with the defendant's sister before the verdict
did not prevent the designer from getting a fair trial.

Defense lawyers alleged that Juror Alvin Dymally twice
reached out to Jon's sister Sanjana near the end of the trial,
possibly seeking a date, and then voted for a conviction after
she refused to meet him alone, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Jon, 35, was convicted on 16 counts of rape and other
charges last year after allegations that he lured aspiring
models to Los Angeles and sexually assaulted them.

After the judge's ruling, prosecutors immediately filed
a sentencing memorandum in which they asked that Jon be
imprisoned for the maximum possible under the law -- three
terms of 53 years and six months to life, AP said.

A tearful Sanjana told reporters outside the court,
"It's a travesty of justice... I believed in the justice
system. I did not go meet up alone with him. If I had, this
today wouldn't be happening," she was quoted as saying by LA
Times.

Outside courtroom after the verdict was pronounced
Sanjana confronted Dymally, a Los Angeles building inspector.

"It's our lives you're playing with," she told him. "You
know the truth." The juror left in silence.

Sanjana along with her mother had come also to New
Delhi, urging the government to intervene in the case so that
Jon would get a fair trial in the US.

Seen as a rising talent in the fashion industry, the
Beverly Hills designer worked with celebrities like Paris
Hilton and Mary J Blige and appeared on the TV show "America's
Next Top Model" before his arrest in 2007.

Dymally had insisted that his contact with Sanjana Jon
came after the trial.

According to a transcript filed by prosecutors, the
phone recording of their conversation shows that the juror
complimented Sanjana several times, telling her, "I think that
you're really sexy" and suggesting that they meet afterward.

"Definitely, we will," Sanjana replied.

Prosecutors said they believed Dymally did speak to her
before the verdict but said a fresh trial cannot be granted on
such flimsy grounds, the LA Times said.

Jon's sentencing has been set for next month, with
contempt hearings for his sister and Dymally to follow in
September. PTI WAJ