LAWRENCE CO.—Here’s your newsblast, with transcript following, of today’s afternoon events in the jury selection of the murder trial of Tyler McQueen in Lawrence County.
Tyler McQueen, exiting the courtroom
McQueen, 21, is charged with three counts of first degree murder in the March 24, 2012 stabbing death of 78-year-old Bob Westall in Westall’s sister’s apartment in United Methodist Village in Lawrenceville.
At the end of THIS, the third day of jury selection, both the prosecution, represented by Lawrence County State’s Attorney Chris Quick and special prosecutor Michael Vujovich, and the defense represented by Fairfield attorney Matt Vaughn, have selected the panel of 12 who will hear the evidence and ultimately deliberate on the fate of young Mr. McQueen.
Now the task of the attorneys is to select at least two but possibly as many as four alternates who will fill in should one or more of the selected jurors be unable to continue. There has been some speculation that the common practice of two alternates is being bumped to four because of concerns over flood conditions in the area
It is nearly a certainty that opening statements will begin tomorrow and if that happens, the first witness could very well take the stand for the prosecution sometime after lunch.
Court is scheduled to resume tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.