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September 2, 2010

Murder trial has Norman ties

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — The murder trial of an Oklahoma pharmacist is garnering some large headlines. Jerome Ersland is scheduled to be tried before a new judge later this month.

He is accused of shooting to death a masked robber inside a south Oklahoma City pharmacy in May of 2009.

Two of the players have Norman ties.

Mr. Ersland, the defendant, has worked relief for at least one Norman pharmacy and Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater grew up in Norman.

Before he went to law school, Mr. Prater was a Norman police officer.

The first judge in the trial, Tammy Bass-LeSure, has recused from the case. The new judge, Ray C. Elliott, has scheduled the trial for December. Judge Bass-LeSure was planning to allow cameras in the courtroom.

However, it is not expected that Judge Elliott will make a similar ruling.

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