Related Links; — After two days of jury selection, attorneys in Great Bend are close to seating a jury for the murder trail of Adam Longoria. Opening statements in the case are planned for Thursday.
Longoria is accused of killing 14-year-old Alica DeBolt in August 2010. The teenager's burned body was found in August of 2010 at an asphalt plant where the defendant worked. Prosecutors have charged Longoria under three different theories that he killed the girl during the commission of a sex act.
The 12 jurors and 2 alternates who will decide Longoria's fate will be chosen from a pool of more than 400 qualified people.
The defense has expressed concern about finding a fair and impartial jury in Great Bend given the extensive media coverage the case has received. However, Judge Hannelore Kitts has twice ruled against a change of venue.Potential jurors were grilled Monday about their ability to be open-minded and to weigh all the evidence in the case before reach a conclusion of guilt or innocence. Four members of the jury pool were excused after saying the already believed Longoria was guilty and that his attorneys would have to change their minds.
