Potential Jurors Pack Courtroom
Staff photo by Tom Turner
Romeo Pinkerton sits during his trial in New Boston Monday. Pinkerton, 49, faces five counts of capital murder and a possible death sentence if convicted for what became known as the Kentucky Fried Chicken murders.
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
NEW BOSTON — Jury selection is under way this morning in New Boston for one of the most anticipated capital murder trials in recent East Texas history.
As of 8:30 a.m., about 150 of the 350 Bowie County residents summoned as potential jurors in the capital murder trial of a suspect in the 1983 KFC murder case had packed into a Bowie County Courthouse courtroom.
From this group will emerge a jury panel that will decide the fate of Romeo Pinkerton, a 49-year-old Tylerite prosecutors say took part in the abduction of five people from the fast food restaurant. The victims were found shot to death on a rural oil lease in nearby Rusk County.
Prosecutors have said the evidence places Pinkerton at the crime scene. If found guilty, Pinkerton could be put to death.
Employees in the Bowie County district clerk’s office said this morning that the office has already received numerous replies from people taking advantage of exemptions that will allow them to be dismissed from jury duty service.
Officials with the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office told the Tyler Paper this morning they are prepared to begin rounding up potential jurors who are not exempt from jury duty and do not show up.
The trial was moved from Rusk County to Bowie County on a change of venue motion because of the extensive publicity in East Texas.
Attorneys for the defense and prosecution said it could take several days, perhaps weeks, to select a jury. Potential jurors will be asked to answer numerous questions to gauge their knowledge of the crime, their feeling about the use of DNA as criminal evidence and the use of the death penalty in criminal justice.
The case is being prosecuted by the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Staff Writer
NEW BOSTON — Jury selection is under way this morning in New Boston for one of the most anticipated capital murder trials in recent East Texas history.
As of 8:30 a.m., about 150 of the 350 Bowie County residents summoned as potential jurors in the capital murder trial of a suspect in the 1983 KFC murder case had packed into a Bowie County Courthouse courtroom.
From this group will emerge a jury panel that will decide the fate of Romeo Pinkerton, a 49-year-old Tylerite prosecutors say took part in the abduction of five people from the fast food restaurant. The victims were found shot to death on a rural oil lease in nearby Rusk County.
Prosecutors have said the evidence places Pinkerton at the crime scene. If found guilty, Pinkerton could be put to death.
Employees in the Bowie County district clerk’s office said this morning that the office has already received numerous replies from people taking advantage of exemptions that will allow them to be dismissed from jury duty service.
Officials with the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office told the Tyler Paper this morning they are prepared to begin rounding up potential jurors who are not exempt from jury duty and do not show up.
The trial was moved from Rusk County to Bowie County on a change of venue motion because of the extensive publicity in East Texas.
Attorneys for the defense and prosecution said it could take several days, perhaps weeks, to select a jury. Potential jurors will be asked to answer numerous questions to gauge their knowledge of the crime, their feeling about the use of DNA as criminal evidence and the use of the death penalty in criminal justice.
The case is being prosecuted by the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
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