Jury selection was scheduled to begin for the trial of a second man charged in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Chicago student just days after she performed with her high school band at then-President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities.
Honor student Hadiya Pendleton was with friends at a park 1 mile from Obama's Chicago home when she was shot in January 2013.
On Friday, a seven-man, five-woman jury as well as two alternates was selected to decide the fate of alleged getaway driver Kenneth Williams.
A separate jury will be picked Monday for alleged gunman Micheail Ward. Opening statements are scheduled Tuesday.
Prosecutors are said to be going forward with no physical evidence or a murder weapon, but will rely heavily on a video confession of one of the suspects.
The men will have separate juries because they have conflicting defenses, but their fate will be decided at the same time.
Prosecutors say she was the unintended target caught in the middle of a gang war.
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In a video recorded confession, Ward told police that Pendleton had “nothing to do with it” and “she was just there.”
The Chicago Tribune reports that the juries will only hear a portion of the taped statement to Chicago police, which the defense has complained hurts Ward’s case that claims he was coerced to confess.
Presiding Judge Nicholas Ford is allowing cameras in the courtroom. However, only audio will be allowed of what may be some of the most emotional testimony.
