BELFAST — A Rockport woman who was convicted of manslaughter April 27 has had her sentencing rescheduled for Aug. 8 after defense attorneys failed in their attempt to secure a new trial.

Victoria Scott, 34, was found guilty of the February 8, 2017, stabbing death of Edwin Littlefield in Waldo, which reportedly occurred after the two had argued.

In an interview with police, Scott said the incident happened after she confronted Littlefield about having an issue with the male friend she had brought with her to the home of a mutual acquaintance, where Scott had reportedly been staying.

Littlefield was walking away from the residence when Scott confronted him, only to realize he was actually angry with her, leading the argument to escalate in intensity. Eventually, the confrontation became physical, ending with her stabbing the victim multiple times, according to the police report.

She stated in the same interview she always had a knife with her for protection.

Scott’s attorneys, Steven C. Peterson, and Naomi C. Cohen, both of West Rockport, argued at trial that she was acting in self-defense at the time of the stabbing.

Her sentencing date was originally scheduled for June 8, but before that could happen defense attorneys filed a motion for a new trial. The motion, which was based on allegedly inappropriate conversations initiated by a single juror, was received by Waldo County Superior Court May 10.

It remained sealed until Justice Murray’s June 8 decision, to protect the privacy of the juror involved.

In the motion, Scott’s attorneys wrote that they first became aware of the April 27 interaction between the juror and the prosecution, who is named thereafter as Juror A, immediately after it happened. A mistrial was not requested at that time because the lone incident seemed like a “non-consequential event of juror misconduct.”

It was after the defense “learned of more serious juror misconduct,” that they determined the comments were a small part of more serious misconduct.

Victoria Scott’s sister, Arianna Scott, filed an affidavit May 1, about a conversation she’s had with a woman she later recognized as a juror while the two were exiting a bathroom.

The woman reportedly told Arianna that she didn’t know who she was, but that she was sorry for what she was going through, that it must be very hard. After inquiring whether she was there for the victim, Arianna said she was there for the girl. Juror A then reportedly said she was sure it was hard for her, too, and that she was praying that God “will give her the wisdom to make the right decision.”

It was only when court was back in session that she realized the woman was a juror, and that she told her mother immediately, but failed to tell Victoria’s attorneys until after the trial was complete.

According to an affidavit filed May 9, Thomas W. Cumler, a private investigator hired by the defense, witnessed a female juror on the case talking with a court officer for “approximately 10-15 minutes” April 27, while other jurors were filing out of the room.

After the juror eventually exited the room, Cumler asked the court officer what the conversation was about and was told the juror “just wanted to know how to get a prayer to the judge.”

When pressed further due to the length of the conversation, the officer stated the juror was also asking about what happens next, and that “a lot” of jurors have similar questions.

Prosecutor Assistant Attorney General Donald Macomber argued against the request in a memorandum in opposition to [the] motion for [a] new trial filed May 17, writing that there is no evidence that any extraneous information was provided to Juror A, noting that it was Juror A who had approached others. In each case, he wrote, Juror A “was conveying (albeit improperly) to the prosecution team, to the jury officer, and to the defendant’s sister that she was looking for spiritual guidance to have the wisdom to make the right decision in the case.”

The motion for a new trial was denied by Justice Robert Murray June 8.

Scott’s attorneys, Peterson and Cohen submitted a request for a mental examination May 9, stating Scott's medical history of Asperger Syndrome and personal history and experiences of abuse may be mitigating factors at the sentencing hearing.

She is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 8 at 1 p.m.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com