The latest: Eight more prospective jurors were questioned on Friday, including a former NBA guard, a Ukrainian phlebotomist, an engineer born in Guyana and a CFO married to a former prosecutor.
But it was a wheelchair-bound grandmother, Juror 51, who provided the most surprising answers, telling the court she had “jumped to a conclusion” about Ross Harris’ guilt but has since reconsidered. She is the first juror to express doubts about the state’s case and said she hopes to be selected, adding she’d “like to see justice be done” for 22-month-old Cooper Harris — who died after being left in his father’s SUV for more than 7 hours in June 2014 — and his father.
Only two of the Cobb County citizens said Friday they would struggle to be fair to Harris. Juror 50, the CFO whose wife was an assistant district attorney in Durham, N.C., was all but certain he couldn’t remain unbiased. He said he “has a hard time believing evidence will be presented to me that will completely change my mind” that Harris is guilty.
The charges: Ross Harris, accused of intentionally leaving Cooper in his car seat, is charged with malice murder, two counts of felony murder, cruelty to children in the first and second degree, criminal attempt to commit a felony and dissemination of harmful materials to minors.
The tally: Twenty-six jurors have been qualified. A minimum of 30 are needed before prosecutors and defense attorneys exercise the nine "peremptory" challenges afforded to each side. Because Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley is expected to want additional alternate jurors, 42, perhaps even more, will have to be qualified.
Quote of the day: "I'm nobody," said the refreshingly self-effacing former basketball player, Juror 49, after Staley confessed she had never heard of him. The juror, who last played in the NBA in 2006, said he knew very little about the case and vowed he would have no problem being impartial.
What's next: Jury selection continues Monday and could wrap up sometime next week. Based on the answers given Friday, it's possible more than 30 jurors will be qualified by Monday afternoon. At that point the court may disclose how many alternates it wishes to choose.
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