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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A federal judge on Wednesday added 17 more potential jurors, including one who attended church services for a Sept. 11 victim, to the pool that will decide whether convicted al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui is executed or imprisoned for life.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema streamlined her questions and faced less frequent objections as she quickened the process. She overruled defense objections to three people and prosecution objections to one. Eighteen other potential jurors were sent home, most because they were too close to the 9/11 attacks or faced financial hardship from a trial that might last three months.
After five days of questioning, Brinkema has 67 of the 85 people she wants to qualify for jury service. They will return March 6 to be whittled by peremptory — or unexplained — defense and prosecution strikes to 12 jurors and six alternates. Opening arguments also are set for that day.
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