Opening statements in the capital murder trial of Justin Thurber are scheduled to begin Oct. 14, according to a schedule set by Judge Jim Pringle Tuesday morning.
But before the trial begins, attorneys for the state and attorneys for Thurber expect to screen hundreds of potential jurors. An initial group of 200 people will be called to fill out a questionnaire on Sept. 29. One or two more groups will be called as needed, Pringle said during a hearing in Winfield.
Jury selection is expected to take at least one week. In many cases locally, that process is completed in a few hours or at most one or two days.
Pringle denied a defense motion seeking to move the trial out of Cowley County but said he would reconsider the request if the questioning of potential jurors indicates moving the trial might be necessary.
Thurber is accused of killing Cowley College student Jodi Sanderholm in January 2007.
Thurber’s trial was originally set to begin this summer but was delayed to give the defense ample time to prepare.
This is the complete schedule set by the judge, prosecutors and defense counsel:
Aug. 1, 9 a.m. ? Meeting to discuss questionnaire to be used in screening potential jurors. The meeting will be held in judge’s chambers and is not open to the public.
Aug. 21, 1:30 p.m. ? Hearing to discuss the admissibility of post and anti-mortem photos. Also will consider evidence seized from a computer and a redacted version of recorded audio.
Sept. 19 ? Deadlines for prosecution and defense to submit proposals for jury instructions.
Sept. 26 10 a.m. ? Hearing of admissibility of scientific testing. This proceeding is not open to the public.
Sept. 29 ? First group of 200 jurors will called into complete a pre-screening questionnaire. Pringle said the court is still searching for a venue large enough to accommodate such a group. Additional groups will be called in subsequent days, if necessary.
Oct. 3 ? Review of questionnaires by prosecution and defense. Discussion of eliminating jurors before voir dire questioning begins.
Oct. 6 ? Jury selection and voir dire questioning to begin. It could take a week or more. Twelve jurors and three alternates will be chosen.
Oct. 14 ? Opening statements to begin. Jury trial starts.
