Jury Selection Begins in Jessica Lunsford Case

Most of the potential jurors questioned during the first day of jury selection in the trial of John Evander Couey for the abduction and murder of nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford said they had heard of the case, but knew few details about Couey and why he came to be charged with kidnapping, raping and killing her. The jury selection is being conducted in Lake County, Florida north of Orlando. Jessica was kidnapped in rural Citrus County. Jurors will be bussed to Citrus County for the trial.

Jury selection was moved to Lake County due to the amount of publicity the case received in Citrus County as hundreds of people searched for the missing third grader in March 2005. Couey, a convicted sex offender whose confession to investigators was thrown out by the judge last week, has pleaded not guilty.

After a first round of questioning, attorneys will continue questioning potential jurors Wednesday about their feelings toward the death penalty. The state will seek the death penalty if Couey is convicted.

Ruling on Defense Motions

Prior to the jury selection, Judge Ric Howard ruled that Couey's defense attorneys cannot question Jessica's father, Mark Lunsford, about his finances or introduce evidence of pornography found in the trash bin of his computer after his daughter disappeared.

Judge Howard said he would rule later on a defense motion to exclude photographs of Jessica's body from the trial. The defense argued that they would be prejudicial and they were "difficult to look at."

Earlier, Howard ruled that the jury cannot hear about Couey's earlier conviction on sexual charges, but he did allow the discovery of Jessica's body behind the mobile home where Couey was living and the bloody mattress containing Jessica's DNA to be used as evidence.

See Also:
Most Prospective Jurors Say They Know Little of Jessica Lunsford Case
Jury Selection Begins in Trial of Man Accused of Killing Girl, 9

Background:
The Jessica Lunsford Case
The Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation

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