Jury Selected In Murder Trial
September 30, 2016 at 8:20 p.m.
By Michael [email protected]
The trial is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Kosciusko Circuit Court with Judge Michael Reed presiding. It is scheduled for five days.
Brandon?Woody, 24, and Kyle Dehart, 24, both of Syracuse, are each facing two counts of murder in connection with the shootings in?February 2015. Woody and Dehart are being tired jointly. Dehart is also charged with obstruction of justice.
Woody is accused of shooting Tara Thornburg, 23, and her boyfriend, Joshua Knisley, 19, during a theft of her marijuana.
Dehart is accused of being part of the robbery that led to the slayings.
A third man, Thomas Hursey also is charged with two counts of murder, but will face charges separately.
During jury selection, prosecutors and defense lawyers questioned 56 potential jurors about their knowledge of the case and relationships with any of the parties involved.
Lawyers asked potential jurors if they could remain impartial giving the emotional impact of a murder case.
“Does anyone here believe that media is 100 percent accurate?” asked prosecutor Dan Hampton.
Even though most potential jurors had read or heard about the case in the news, Hampton asked jurors if they would be abe to set aside what they had read and heard and base their verdict on the evidence presented in court.
Larry Hansen, who is representing Dehart, asked the jury candidates if they ever had been accused of something they didn’t do, and asked to think of reasons that someone might make up a story.
Scott Lennox, who represents Woody, echoed statements made by Hampton and Hansen about reasonable doubt and the presumption of innocence.
In addition to the 12 people selected, three alternates were chosen. The alternates will step in if one of the jurors is unable to preform his or her duty.
If convicted, Woody and Dehart face 45 years to life in prison without parole on each count.
The trial is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday in Kosciusko Circuit Court with Judge Michael Reed presiding. It is scheduled for five days.
Brandon?Woody, 24, and Kyle Dehart, 24, both of Syracuse, are each facing two counts of murder in connection with the shootings in?February 2015. Woody and Dehart are being tired jointly. Dehart is also charged with obstruction of justice.
Woody is accused of shooting Tara Thornburg, 23, and her boyfriend, Joshua Knisley, 19, during a theft of her marijuana.
Dehart is accused of being part of the robbery that led to the slayings.
A third man, Thomas Hursey also is charged with two counts of murder, but will face charges separately.
During jury selection, prosecutors and defense lawyers questioned 56 potential jurors about their knowledge of the case and relationships with any of the parties involved.
Lawyers asked potential jurors if they could remain impartial giving the emotional impact of a murder case.
“Does anyone here believe that media is 100 percent accurate?” asked prosecutor Dan Hampton.
Even though most potential jurors had read or heard about the case in the news, Hampton asked jurors if they would be abe to set aside what they had read and heard and base their verdict on the evidence presented in court.
Larry Hansen, who is representing Dehart, asked the jury candidates if they ever had been accused of something they didn’t do, and asked to think of reasons that someone might make up a story.
Scott Lennox, who represents Woody, echoed statements made by Hampton and Hansen about reasonable doubt and the presumption of innocence.
In addition to the 12 people selected, three alternates were chosen. The alternates will step in if one of the jurors is unable to preform his or her duty.
If convicted, Woody and Dehart face 45 years to life in prison without parole on each count.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092