Jury selection for the alleged University Heights shooter's murder trial finished its third day on Wednesday, Sept. 24 with a final list of 45 potential jurors.
Desmonte Leonard is charged with the killing of DeMario Pitts and former Auburn football players Ladarious Phillips and Ed Christian on June 9, 2012. Three others--Eric Mack, Xavier Moss and John Robertson--were injured in the shooting.
A final list of 45 potential jurors will be narrowed down to 12 jurors and three alternates on Thursday, Sept. 25.
When the list was presented to the courtroom, defense attorney Susan James raised objections because the list only had five African-Americans.
The list of 45 potential jurors was randomly generated by a computer after the court qualified 59 of the 102 jurors that were called on Monday, Sept. 22.
"I think this list is under representative of the community as a whole," James said.
Judge Jacob A. Walker suggested they could randomly generate another list, but District Attorney Robert Treese objected.
"Once you start creating a new random list because you don't like it, it loses its randomness," Treese said.
Walker said the court would go with the original list but would allow arguments from James citing any precedent for creating a new random list on Friday, Sept. 26.
Prosecutors said they would be seeking the death penalty in the case.
Ninety-two potential jurors were broken up into 15 panels that met on Tuesday and Wednesday and were asked questions individually regarding their views on the death penalty.
"I've read the scripture and searched my heart, and I believe in the death penalty," Juror 113 said.
Some potential jurors were less emotional about the death penalty.
"I believe if a person is convicted of murder then the death penalty is justified," Juror 112 said.
Other potential jurors disagreed with the death penalty.
"I could not bear the thought of (Leonard's) soul being in my hands with the death penalty," Juror 99 said.
Another potential juror added his view.
"I don't feel like two wrongs make a right," Juror 106 said.
Most potential jurors said they would be able to make an unbiased judgment, but a few said they had heard too much about the case.
"You'd have to present a very strong case for me to conclude (Leonard) is not guilty," Juror 101 said. "If you were to ask me today I would say guilty, but I think I could be fair."
Juror 104, who was removed from the pool on Wednesday, knew the victims from her work at the Auburn Athletic Department Writing Center.
"Ladarious, if he met me in public, he'd give me a big open hug," Juror 104 said. "He was a special guy."
Juror 104 added all of the victims had been in a class she taught in 2010.
"It was crushing to hear they were killed." Juror 104 said.
Opening arguments are expected to be begin Friday, according to Treese.
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