The Fairfax courtroom where Jesse Matthew stood trial, and eventually pleaded guilty, was packed Wednesday. In the courtroom were prosecutors and detectives from the Hannah Graham case, as well as family members in other cases were Matthew has been implicated.
Here's who was in the courtroom, and how they reacted to his plea:
Matthew's parents, sister and girlfriend were a constant presence over the course of the two and a half days of trial. As Matthew pleaded guilty to all three charges, his mother cried and his father hunched over with his head down. His sister donned sunglasses shortly before Matthew entered his plea.
Also in attendance were Gil and Dan Harrington, parents of Morgan Harrington. Matthew has been linked to, but not charged in, Harrington's 2009 murder.
This was the first time Dan Harrington had come face to face with Matthew, and Gil could frequently be seen putting her arm around her husband's shoulder. During the guilty plea, only Gil was present, and her face remained expressionless.
Matthew listened intently to all the proceedings, occasionally leaning over to whisper to his lawyers. He wore a button-down shirt, dress pants and a ponytail each day; he was not handcuffed. Matthew spoke in a soft voice and showed little emotion throughout, even as he was entering his guilty plea.
The 14-person jury -- 12 members and 2 alternates -- also paid close attention. Some took notes while others simply listened. The jury was made up of 7 men and 7 women, Only one juror was black.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Despite the high turnout in the courtroom, the atmosphere remained calm and reserved throughout testimony. There were no emotional outbursts or interruptions.
