Jury has been selected in the Jeff Tsarnas case. 16 jurors are in the courtroom. Of those, one was excused after questioning. They are still picking alternates. There were 12 jurors left this morning. Another juror was excused for hardship. One juror being questioned was on the call list for a COVID vaccine.
Defense has to view some items People intend to introduce during opening statement which was supposed to happen during the morning break.
The trial is expected to conclude on April 2.
Barring any unforseen developments, the People were expected to start presenting evidence today. There is a before possibility of opening statements could start this morning which would be followed by People's witnesses.
Before the mid morning break, Judge Timothy Canning ruled on several motions in limine regarding opening statements and the trial.
The motions were about stipulation that sunset was at 4:52 according to the Farmer's Almanac, not 4:53 on the day of the alleged hit and run, decisions about speaking objections and other stipulations, People utilizing demonstrative evidence during opening statements, defense investigator Paul Morris possibly testifying and only to impeach witnesses and exclusion of Tsarnas' statements which maybe subject to "the rule of completeness."
Depending on evidence predented at trial, the People said may dismiss the special allegation.
I covered the preliminary hearing in detail and the case. People can google or access those posts on this blog.
My coverage of this case is something that will depend day to day. Right now, I am not planning to cover the trial in detail. There was nothing new that was presented in opening statements that has not been covered during the preliminary hearing.
There have been numerous delays with this trial. That and the utter chaos and backlog in Humboldt Superior Court has an impact on time.
There are a lot of cases and current news that people have more interest in compared to this trial; the public can also watch the livestream which is not an option available previously.
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