Sunny Hostin Held Out as Sole Juror in 1991 Trial

MIAMI — "The View" host Sunny Hostin revealed on a recent episode of the talk show that she was the only dissenting juror in the 1991 trial of Daniel Rakowitz, infamously known as the "Butcher of Tompkins Square Park." Hostin shared this during a discussion about the recent Lindsay Clancy case, which ended in an 11-1 jury split and a mistrial.

Hostin explained her strong feelings about holdout jurors stem from her own experience. "I was a holdout juror in a case, in the Daniel Rakowitz case," she stated, surprising her co-hosts. The Rakowitz case involved the 1989 murder and dismemberment of Monika Beerle, a 26-year-old dance student. Rakowitz was found not guilty by reason of insanity at his 1991 trial.

Hostin, who served on the jury before attending law school, recalled skepticism from some colleagues when she initially mentioned her experience. Her producer confirmed the story by finding a New York Times clipping that stated, "Several jurors questioned afterward said one holdout juror was principally responsible for preventing them from returning a guilty verdict." Hostin confirmed, "That was me." She based her decision on her assessment that Rakowitz was psychotic and in a state of psychosis during the crime, leading to his plea of not criminally responsible by reason of insanity.

The jury deliberated for nine days. Hostin recounted, "One juror threw a chair at me, they were so angry with me." She ultimately persuaded the other jurors, and they reached a unanimous verdict that Rakowitz was not criminally responsible due to insanity. Rakowitz was ordered in 2010 to remain at the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center.