Jury taking shape in Scott Roeder trial BY RON SYLVESTER The Wichita Eagle

Jury taking shape in Scott Roeder trial

BY RON SYLVESTER

The Wichita Eagle

Lawyers are closing in on having selected the number of jurors they need to move to the public phase of the first-degree murder trial of Scott Roeder.

When court ended Wednesday, 44 jurors had been qualified to continue their service. More than 42 are needed before lawyers begin public questioning.

Lawyers are expected to question several more jurors in private today. Questioning of the jury pool in open court is expected to begin at 1:30 p.m. today.

During the past five days, lawyers have been questioning jurors in private about issues such as their feelings on abortion and whether they ever used the services of the late George Tiller.

Tiller, 67, was shot in his Wichita church on May 31. Roeder, 51, is charged with first-degree murder.

During private interviews, 11 of the 61 jurors initially called to the courthouse were dismissed because they couldn't be impartial.

Jurors could still be dismissed, depending on how they answer questions during the public session.

After narrowing the field to 42, lawyers may make their final strikes — 14 for each side — to leave the final panel of 12 jurors and two alternates.