Listen to this article(NewsNation) — After three days of intense questioning, the jury in the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh was selected Wednesday, with 12 jurors and six alternates.
Jury selection began Monday morning as prosecutors and defense attorneys sifted through some 700 summons to find 12 jurors and six alternates. More than 200 people were brought in for a first round of questioning that lasted nearly three hours, but only about 30 were qualified for the pool of potential jurors.
Potential jurors faced a battery of questions, including whether they knew any of the nearly 200 law officers, friends, bankers and others on the witness list as well as whether they had heard about and followed the case.
Alex Murdaugh jury has been chosen.
12 jurors.
6 alternates.— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) January 25, 2023
The trial is taking place in Colleton County, South Carolina, part of the state’s Lowcountry where the Murdaugh family has been influential for decades. A portrait of Murdaugh’s father usually hangs in the courtroom but the judge ordered it removed for the trial.
Murdaugh is charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of his wife and son and the judge in the case has set aside three weeks for the trial. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty.
After jury selection, the court recessed for lunch and opening arguments are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. eastern time on Wednesday.
This is a developing story, refresh this page for updates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
