By Nick Gale, WLS-AM 890 News
(CHICAGO) — Jury selection is underway in the trial of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke, who is charged with shooting to death teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014.
It is a slow process but there is progress as the prosecution, defense and the judge question potential jurors from a pool of nearly 200. So far one juror has been seated.
Some of those dismissed from service include one man who said he couldn’t put aside what he knows about the shooting and be fair to Van Dyke.
A woman was dismissed after she told attorneys that for anyone who has seen the dashcam video of the shooting, it would be hard to believe McDonald wasn’t murdered. McDonald was high on drugs and was wielding a knife. Van Dyke says he feared for his life.
The judge in the case will also assess the questioning and seating of jurors and will later determine if the trial should remain in Cook County or be moved as the defense has requested. Questioning of the potential jurors is expected to last for several days.
Copyright 2018 WLS-AM News
