Jury pool trimmed in murder trial

The defendants’ lawyers are considering whether to ask for a change of venue.

CANTON (AP) — Lawyers in the case of a former police officer accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend trimmed the jury pool Friday, with intense news media coverage of the case among their concerns.

The pool of 800 potential jurors in the case of Bobby Cutts Jr., 30, has been reduced to 222, Stark County Common Pleas Judge Charles Brown said. Lawyers have been examining questionnaires that seek potential jurors’ views on media coverage of the case and the death penalty.

Cutts has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, gross abuse of a corpse and endangering children in the death of Jessie Marie Davis, 26, who was nearly full-term when she was killed in her Northeast Ohio home in June.

Cutts, who resigned as a Canton patrolman, was handcuffed as he sat at the defense table during the 10-minute hearing Friday. A small group of his relatives and friends sat nearby.

The final phase of jury selection is to begin Wednesday with opening statements expected in early February.

Cutts’ lawyers still are trying to decide whether they will seek to move the trial out of Canton.

Defense lawyer Fernando Mack said after the hearing that Cutts’ defense is trying to determine if there can be a fair jury selected that is representative of the county.

“We’re seeking to have a fair cross-section of this community that’s going to judge this case fairly,” he said. “We think we’re very prepared for this trial.”

Mack said attorneys representing Cutts have been meticulous in examining answers potential jurors have made on questionnaires. “That’s what this process is all about. We’re going through all these questionnaires to make a determination of whether or not Mr. Cutts can get a fair jury here.”

Davis was reported missing when her mother went to her home and found Davis’ toddler son, Blake, in a dirty diaper, the bedroom furniture toppled and a pool of bleach on the floor. Thousands of volunteers helped in a search for her.

Cutts is Blake’s father and Davis’ family has said he also was the father of Davis’ unborn daughter, who was to be named Chloe.

Mack said Cutts is doing well as his trial date approaches.

“I think that he’s strong,” Mack said. “No one wants to be in these circumstances, but it’s day to day, and Bobby is holding up well.”