Jury Selection Begins In Trial Of Bergen Woman's Murder: Report

Jurors are being selected this week in the trial of a former New York City police officer accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Suzanne Bardzell to death outside of her Midland Park home in October 2015, NorthJersey.com reported.

Arthur Lomando, 47, has remained in prison on $5 million bail while waiting for the trial to begin, according to the report.

Jury selection could last six weeks, according to the report.

Arthur J. Lomando was indicted in April 2016 on eight counts, including, murder, hindering apprehension, stalking, and witness tampering.

Lomando is accused of using a 9-and-a-half-inch long machete to stab Bardzell to death in her driveway. Bardzell was a special education teacher in Teaneck. (See related: Ex-Cop Kills Bergen Woman, Jumps At Train, Loses Legs: Prosecutor)

Police said Lomando waited to ambush Bardzell when she came home. She was found dead inside her SUV.

Bardzell and Lomando met online and had a turbulent three-year relationship. Bardzell, a mother of two, took out a restraining order against Lomando three weeks before she was killed.

Lomando's father said the couple "fought like cats and dogs," Newsday reported.

Lomando reportedly violated the restraining order several times, including one incident where he led police on a massive search for him.

Bardzell reportedly told a friend 12 times in the week before her death that she was afraid Lomando was "gonna kill me."

Hours after the incident, Lomando jumped in front of a New York City subway train in an apparent suicide attempt, authorities said.

Lomando is suing the New York City Transit Authority for $50 million. He claims he was nudged or slipped and fell in front of the train due to platform crowding.

Lomando had both feet amputated after the accident.

Lomando was treated for depression after was fired from the New York City Police Department in July 2004 on misconduct accusations.

Lomando's mother, Jeannette, said a few days after Bardzell's death that her son had been dealing with depression "for some time," and had seen therapists and psychologists for help dealing with it, Newsday reported.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Pictured: Arthur Lomando is accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend, Suzanne Bardzell of Midland Park, in her driveway in October. (Bergen County Prosecutor's Office)