Tyler McQueen, leaving the small courtroom in Lawrence County’s courthouse today, 4.22.13, with Deputy Danny Ash behind him.
LAWRENCE CO.—Here’s a newsblast about the first day of jury selection in the First Degree Murder trial of Tyler McQueen in Lawrenceville, and, by request from previous trials, we will include below the transcript of the newsblast (be watching for updates to the Terry Payton newsblasts as we will be adding transcripts to those as well).
Disclosure NewsMagazine/DisclosureNewsOnline newsblast for Monday, April 22, 2013, day one of the First Degree Murder trial of Tyler McQueen. McQueen is the young man who was living in Mt. Carmel a little over a year ago when, authorities say, he killed 78-year-old Bob Westall at Westall’s sister’s apartment at the United Methodist Village in Lawrenceville, on the night of March 24, 2012. This was allegedly at the behest of Westall’s niece, Helen Marie Westall, who offered McQueen money and a car if he would kill her uncle; Helen Marie is on the witness list and her trial is scheduled to go May 13…but in the meantime, McQueen’s is in jury selection right now, which isn’t going very fast. In fact, at this afternoon’s session of selection, Judge Robert Hopkins made note to the attorneys handling the case of his dismay that only four jurors of 14 had been empaneled so far. This morning’s session had the usual seating of 14—12 jurors and two alternates—but it appeared that the group setting led to problems when it came to a sort of “group mentality,” as it seemed that when one juror expressed an opinion or concern that could keep him or her off the jury, a whole row of jurors expressed the same concern…so that of 14 after nearly two hours, only two were selected. So rather than hold voir dire in groups, Hopkins opted to take it to the small courtroom, and one potential juror at a time was questioned. While this took significantly longer, it was successful in weeding out those who had real problems with serving on a jury, and ultimately, four women were selected at the end of the day, about 4:30.
Among questions the potential jurors are being asked, some focus on graphic autopsy photos of the stabbed Bob Westall, but many focus on the presumption of innocence until the state could prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that McQueen is guilty. Sadly, a number of people in the first panel told attorneys that they could not remain fair and impartial, and had already made up their minds on the matter. The case has had a fair amount of media coverage, but apparently nothing like what’s getting geared up for when the matter actually begins with testimony…something that’s expected to occur perhaps Wednesday afternoon, and which will run not only the rest of this week, but well into next week as well, with 68 people listed as witnesses on either the state’s or defense’s case. The people are being represented by Lawrence prosecutor Chris Quick and special prosecutor Mike Vujovich; the defense has Fairfield attorney Matt Vaughn in its corner; and all seem to be doing a great job so far. Be checking the website frequently for updates as this trial progresses.