TRUMBULL CO. Murder trial jurors chosen

The alternate jurors will sit through the entire trial.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Donna Roberts could face the death penalty if she is convicted of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.
It took more than a month, but a jury of 12 jurors and four alternates was to begin hearing opening arguments in the Howland woman's capital murder trial this morning.
The alternates will sit through the entire trial but will take part in deliberations only if one of the jurors can no longer serve.
Attorneys began interviewing potential jurors April 8. The final alternate was selected Monday afternoon.
One reason it took so long is because each juror was interviewed individually, said Chris Becker, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor.
Some potential jurors were excused because they had already formed opinions on the case and others were not chosen because of their feelings about the death penalty, court officials said.
Jury selection generally takes no longer than two or three weeks and, in some cases, even less time.
Background
Roberts, 57, and Nathaniel Jackson were charged with killing Roberts' former husband, Robert Fingerhut, on Dec. 11, 2001, in the Fonderlac Drive S.E. home Roberts and Fingerhut shared.
Prosecutors say Roberts and Jackson wrote hundreds of letters to each other, some discussing their plans to kill Fingerhut when Jackson was released from prison.
The letters were found in the Fonderlac home and in the trunk of Roberts' car.
Jackson was released from prison Dec. 9, 2001, after serving one year on a Mahoning County conviction for receiving stolen property.
He was convicted of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary in the Fingerhut case and has been sentenced to death.
He is appealing.
sinkovich@vindy.com