Jury selection is expected to wrap up this afternoon in Washington. KBUR’s Steve Putney says the process is moving along.
“About halfway through the selection process at this point… Judge Brown says that she expects opening arguments to begin tomorrow morning.”
Each juror will be individually questioned due to the sensitive and graphic nature of the case. Judge Mary Ann Brown is presiding over the case, she said she’s expecting to have narrowed down the 12-person jury and 3 alternates by the end of the day.
Opening arguments and testimony are expected to begin Thursday morning.
26-year-old Jaron Purham is on trial for the 2015 killing of LGBTQ teenager Kedarie Johnson, who was tortured and shot in a 4th street alleyway, then had bleach dumped on him in an effort to destroy evidence.
Purham’s cousin, Jorge Sanders-Galvez was convicted in November of last year for his part in the killing. Prosecutors believe the two killed Johnson after finding out he was biologically male during a sexual encounter.
