First Two Jurors Dismissed in Kerrick Trial, Questions Continue Tuesday
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CHARLOTTE, NC — 28 potential jurors are left in the first day of questioning in the trial of CMPD Officer Wes Kerrick, and they will be back for more Tuesday as attorneys decide if 12 can give Officer Kerrick a fair trial.
Officer Kerrick’s family left the courtroom silently. Ferrell’s family left before jurors came in to the courtroom for briefing after lunch.
Attorneys hashed out issues for hours before the 30 potential jurors got a glimpse of Officer Kerrick.
Some looked surprised as the judge explained they could be the key to the most important trial in Charlotte in years in which Officer Kerrick shot and killed an unarmed Jonathan Ferrell 10 times.
After the jury pool answered nearly 50 questions on paper and reviewed a list of more than 200 potential witnesses in the case, attorneys only had time to ask jurors if they knew anything about the case. If so, attorneys wanted to know if they could put that aside and come to a verdict based solely on facts revealed in the courtroom.
Judge Robert Ervin dismissed the first juror due to the financial hardship.
He dismissed the second because she said she could not be unbiased.
Earlier in the day, Ferrell’s mother was wearing a button with her son’s photo on it.
Defense attorney Michael Greene argued that photo could cause prejudice among the jury. The judge ruled that it and any items representing a side in the case cannot come into the courtroom. Judge Ervin said, “This is not a forum for public speech when you are here as a spectator.”
Jury selection is expected to last throughout the week. Attorneys have to question each of the 30 separately, and if they cannot pick 12 out of this group, another 30 will be selected.
