First Day of Jury Selection - Rich May Murder Trial

Wednesday - Auguest 26, 2009

The first day of jury selection was conducted and 152 prospective jurors were brought into court (67 in the morning and 85 in the afternoon). The jurors were silent when Judge Parsons advised them that this was a murder trial involving the killing of a police officer but there was an audible and loud gasp/groan when they were advised the trial could last until mid-December.

The jurors were told to fill out a hardship form if they were requesting an excuse from the case due to hardship (financial, educational, medical, etc.). 58 of the 152 jurors were passed for hardship and filled out questionnaires (that is a high rate for a trial that could last to mid-December).
The trial resumes Thursday morning at 9:00 with hardship inquiry on two more panels of 75 jurors.

MURDER TRAIL WILL RESTART AUGUST 24

Hello all. Thank you for the many emails. A brief note...

The trial is currently scheduled to start in two weeks - assuming that no filings occur which will create another delay.

The Jury Selection process should start later in the week of August 24.

It is expected that opening statements and testimony from witnesses will begin at the end of September or more likely the first week of October.

The Defense is bringing a post-traumatic stress disorder claim along with a self-defense claim.

You can expect that Assistant District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe will bring a strong case against both of these claims.

Rich's Father...