Jury selection continues for 2005 murder trial

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Jury selection is likely to continue through next week in the aggravated-murder trial of Alan Francis, accused of killing John P. Crocker, 76, of Emerson Street, Weathersfield Township, on Nov. 21, 2005.

Four hundred Trumbull County residents were issued summonses to report to the courthouse for possible inclusion in the jury.

Of those, 173 reported to the courthouse Tuesday morning. Many of those had reasons why they felt they could not serve, such as having to report to college in several days, having a close family relative who was about to undergo surgery or having to begin rehabilitation after surgery.

Most of those were excused by Judge John M. Stuard, who is presiding over the trial in common pleas court.

Of the 173, 105 remained Wednesday, when attorneys for the prosecution and defense began to interview potential jurors individually. That process will continue today and last through at least part of next week at a pace of about 10 jurors per day.

If convicted of certain of the charges, Francis, 46, of Niles and Girard, could get the death penalty.

Charges pertaining to robberies Francis is accused of committing at about the same time as the homicide will be handled separately.