O.J. trial: Sixteen down, twenty-four to go
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/10/art.oj.lawyers.jpg caption="O.J. Simpson withlawyers Gabriel Grosso, right, and Yale Galanter during the second day of the jury selection in Las Vegas."]Editor’s Note: O.J. Simpson arrived Monday for the start of his trial on robbery and kidnapping charges nearly a year after police arrested him in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prosecutors say Simpson and five other men stormed into a Las Vegas hotel room last September 13 to recover sports memorabilia that Simpson said belonged to him. They say at least two men with Simpson had guns as they robbed two sports memorabilia dealers. The following dispatches come from our Paul Vercammen covering the trial:
Paul Vercammen
CNN Senior Producer
10:47am PT:
Four more prospective jurors passed through the exhaustive questioning process and are qualified to potentially serve in the O.J. Simpson kidnapping and armed robbery trial in Las Vegas.
The four women bring the total of "qualified" potential jurors in the case to 16. The court needs to seat a pool of 40 potential jurors before lawyers begin their challenges and whittle down the pool to 12 jurors and six alternates.
The only African-American potential juror passed through so far, may be excused from the case because of a bad back.
The teacher told the court her doctor had serious concerns about the strain on her back while sitting and standing during the trial. She said she is advised to lay down as much as possible.
The juror, Judge Jackie Glass and lawyers had a lengthy discussion in private until the juror was told to go back downstairs to the jury room until further notice.
Of the 16 jurors who have qualified so far, two are men.
One juror candidate was excused this morning after she cited financial hardship.
The woman seemed relieved and whispered bye to her fellow juror candidates as she departed.
12:01pm PT:
Just before the lunch break, three more potential jurors passed through judge and attorney questioning.
Two men and a woman have been added to the list of qualified jurors, bringing the eligible list to 19.
The court needs a pool of 40 to pull from.
Just four of the qualified potential jurors are men.
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Filed under: Crime & Punishment • O.J. Simpson Trial |
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I wish this trial was not even on CNN.
We know, he want an attention and he is getting what he wants and until the media stop talking about him. This is his life now, he makes money every time the media puts him on the screen, newspaper or magazines. I think people are tired of his stupid and idiotic ego act and saying. I respect human stupidity, but not his, its tooooo much!
Lets be real here, O.J. Simpson will not get a fair trial in Vegas. To many people remember the murders of his wife and friend what's his name again? I feel more sorry for his kids thou.
With Sigfried and Roy being on permenant hiatus from Las Vegas, I suggest that OJ Simpson be placed into the former Mirage tiger sanctuary; what a sight to see.