KELSO — Jury selection in Frederick Russell’s vehicular homicide trial dragged through a third day Wednesday with defense lawyers concerned that some prospective jurors might have discussed the case or paid attention to news coverage.
Those concerns prompted lawyers to question some prospective jurors one on one.
The jury pool consisted of about 50 people Wednesday morning. Ten were dismissed by the end of the day.
“We’re taking some extra precautions here,” Whitman County Superior Court Judge David Frazier told the jury pool Wednesday. “Take every precaution you can to avoid everything about this case.”
Russell, 29, is charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and three counts of vehicular assault in a 2001 crash that killed three Washington State University students and injured three others on the Pullman-Moscow highway. Prosecutors allege Russell was drunk and speeding at the time of the accident.
Killed in the crash were WSU seniors Brandon Clements, 22, of Wapato; Stacy Morrow, 21, of Milton; and Ryan Sorensen, 21, of Westport.
Prosecutors said they’re worried the delay in seating a jury will inconvenience their witnesses.
“If we don’t start with witness testimony (Thursday), we could be in a real bind,” Lana Weinmann, an assistant state attorney general, told Frazier on Wednesday evening. “This is taking way longer than we predicted.”
Russell’s trial was moved from Whitman County because of extensive news coverage of the case.
After his arrest, Russell fled to Ireland where he was found in 2005 and later extradited to the United States. He faces 10 to 14 years in prison if convicted.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
