Jury Selection Underway this Week in Capital Murder Trial

Monday morning over 100 juror candidates appeared at the courthouse with Senior Resident Superior Court Judge James Floyd Ammons, Jr. presiding over the high profile trial surrounding the death of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis in November 2009.

Before the jury candidates were divided into panels, the two legal teams met with Judge Ammons where the defendant, Mario Andrette McNeill, plead not guilty.

McNeill admitted that he took the child from the Sleepy Hollow trailer park located off Murchison Road and brought her to a motel in Lee County where he claims to have left with her and denies killing her.

The defense team for McNeill includes Harold "Butch" Pope and Terry Alford. McNeill sat quietly next to them dressed in a Kelly green polo shirt, faded black jeans, white tennis shoes and his long dreadlocks neatly tied back, draping down his shoulders. His demeanor seemed relaxed and pleasant.

Very few spectators were present. His mother and a few supporters sat near the front left side of the courtroom while Bradley Lockhart and his family, Shaniya Davis' father, sat on the front right portion of the courtroom.

"I won't tolerate any outbursts in the courtroom and no contact with the jurors," issued Judge Ammons before the juror candidates were brought into courtroom 4A. "I know it's an emotional issue for all involved."

Representatives from the District Attorney's office are D.A., William "Billy" West, G. Robert "Robby" Hicks, III and Rita Cox.

After 13 prospective jurors were excused by Judge Ammons for a variety of reasons, mainly medical concerns, two were full-time students, one young mother did not have childcare plans toting her three year old son with her, and one juror with a letter from Veterans Affairs stating that he was 100 percent disabled was not fit for jury duty.

The candidate pool of 87 jurors packed tightly into the middle section of pew-like rows inside courtroom 4A. The male candidates numbered 42, with 45 female candidates present.

Judge Ammons was compassionate and friendly to the pool of jurors, taking his time in explaining the responsibility to the candidates, interspersing humor into the heavy feeling that filled the room in the beginning. 

"It takes a village to run this courtroom," said Judge Ammons explaining how key the role of a juror is.

With a light hearted manner, Judge Ammons brought several chuckles from the jury pool of candidates.

"Raise your hand if you are not of a sound mind," asked Judge Ammons when quite a few hands quickly were thrust upwards as most in the room giggled. Then the judge rephrased the question emphasizing the civic responsibility in being a juror.

The prospective jurors were divided into seven panels with four panels being dismissed for the day.The jury selection process is expected to take up to seven days.

What does it take to be on the jury panel? -story to follow later.

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