The Commercial Appeal
Jurors picked for Echols-Baldwin trial
Misskelley may testify in triple slaying
Date: February 26, 1994 Section: Metro Page: b1 Source: Bartholomew Sullivan The Commercial Appeal Dateline: JONESBORO, Ark.
Edition: Final
A jury of eight women and four men has been selected to hear the state's case against Damien Wayne Echols and Charles Jason Baldwin, with opening arguments scheduled for Monday morning. Echols, 19, and Baldwin, 16, are charged with capital murder in the May 5 deaths of West Memphis 8-year-olds Christopher Byers, Michael Moore and Steve Branch. Two alternate jurors, both men, also were selected by 4:30 p.m.
Circuit Judge David Burnett said the process took about the time he'd expected. At times, and particularly after Wednesday's full day of jury questioning produced just one panelist, it looked like the process would stretch into next week.
Burnett said Friday morning, after nine jurors had been selected in two days, that it was proving ``almost impossible'' to find 12 impartial jurors.
As the week ended on a more hopeful note, one major uncertainty remained: whether codefendant Jessie Lloyd Misskelley Jr., convicted earlier this month, will testify at the second trial.
Second Judicial District Prosecuting Atty. Brent Davis and Deputy Prosecutor John N. Fogleman left the courthouse Friday night declining to discuss Misskelley or what kind of jury they been trying to impanel this week. ``I'm not going to comment on Mr. Misskelley at all,'' said Fogleman.
Phillip J. Wells, a Jonesboro attorney appointed by the court to evaluate Misskelley's understanding of the options and consequences of testifying, said he expects negotiations for his testimony will take place through the weekend.
The state made him an undisclosed offer Tuesday night but have not made another, Wells said Friday. ``The reason he's (Misskelley's) undecided is that his attorneys haven't gotten with the prosecuting attorneys to discuss the best deal he can get in exchange for his testimony,'' said Wells.
Wells said Misskelley is in ``a wait-and-see mode at the moment,'' at the Craighead County Jail.
Burnett, all six lawyers and Baldwin's trial psychologist Jim Rasicot of Minneapolis, Minn., looked exhausted as they emerged from the crowded back room behind the spacious courtroom. The lawyers said they would spend the weekend preparing. ``We'll be ready to go come Monday,'' said Val P. Price, Echols's lawyer.
The jurors appear to be mostly early middle-aged, with one 21-year-old Air Force airman. They include a nurse, two factory workers, a building contractor, three housewives, a speech pathologist, a worker for the Arkansas Highway Department and a self-employed businessman.
Unlike the trial in Corning, Burnett said Friday he was considering not releasing their names until he asks their consent, and strongly implied he doesn't expect to get it.
Several have ``requested to remain anonymous citizens of the county,'' he said.
Jurors picked for Echols-Baldwin trial
Misskelley may testify in triple slaying
Date: February 26, 1994 Section: Metro Page: b1 Source: Bartholomew Sullivan The Commercial Appeal Dateline: JONESBORO, Ark.
Edition: Final
A jury of eight women and four men has been selected to hear the state's case against Damien Wayne Echols and Charles Jason Baldwin, with opening arguments scheduled for Monday morning. Echols, 19, and Baldwin, 16, are charged with capital murder in the May 5 deaths of West Memphis 8-year-olds Christopher Byers, Michael Moore and Steve Branch. Two alternate jurors, both men, also were selected by 4:30 p.m.
Circuit Judge David Burnett said the process took about the time he'd expected. At times, and particularly after Wednesday's full day of jury questioning produced just one panelist, it looked like the process would stretch into next week.
Burnett said Friday morning, after nine jurors had been selected in two days, that it was proving ``almost impossible'' to find 12 impartial jurors.
As the week ended on a more hopeful note, one major uncertainty remained: whether codefendant Jessie Lloyd Misskelley Jr., convicted earlier this month, will testify at the second trial.
Second Judicial District Prosecuting Atty. Brent Davis and Deputy Prosecutor John N. Fogleman left the courthouse Friday night declining to discuss Misskelley or what kind of jury they been trying to impanel this week. ``I'm not going to comment on Mr. Misskelley at all,'' said Fogleman.
Phillip J. Wells, a Jonesboro attorney appointed by the court to evaluate Misskelley's understanding of the options and consequences of testifying, said he expects negotiations for his testimony will take place through the weekend.
The state made him an undisclosed offer Tuesday night but have not made another, Wells said Friday. ``The reason he's (Misskelley's) undecided is that his attorneys haven't gotten with the prosecuting attorneys to discuss the best deal he can get in exchange for his testimony,'' said Wells.
Wells said Misskelley is in ``a wait-and-see mode at the moment,'' at the Craighead County Jail.
Burnett, all six lawyers and Baldwin's trial psychologist Jim Rasicot of Minneapolis, Minn., looked exhausted as they emerged from the crowded back room behind the spacious courtroom. The lawyers said they would spend the weekend preparing. ``We'll be ready to go come Monday,'' said Val P. Price, Echols's lawyer.
The jurors appear to be mostly early middle-aged, with one 21-year-old Air Force airman. They include a nurse, two factory workers, a building contractor, three housewives, a speech pathologist, a worker for the Arkansas Highway Department and a self-employed businessman.
Unlike the trial in Corning, Burnett said Friday he was considering not releasing their names until he asks their consent, and strongly implied he doesn't expect to get it.
Several have ``requested to remain anonymous citizens of the county,'' he said.
