Five jurors seated in Schoharie limo crash trial
[anvplayer video=”5175058″ station=”998132″]
The Schoharie limo crash trial of Nauman Hussain now has five jurors.
The jurors were all picked on Tuesday morning – the second day of jury selection.
No jurors were picked on Monday, the first day of jury selection.
Both sides must pick 12 jurors and four alternate jurors.
The process of selecting jurors is taking a bit longer than usual in this very high-profile case.
FILE - Nauman Hussain, who ran the limousine company involved in the 2018 crash that killed 20 people, walks outside during a lunch break in a new trial in Schoharie, N.Y., on Monday, May 1, 2023. Judge Peter Lynch, rejected a plea agreement for Hussain to avoid prison time. (AP Photo / Hans Pennink)
Many people in the area know someone connected to the case, was at the crash scene, or know someone on the potential witness list.
The prosecution and defense both have 20 peremptory challenges, meaning they can object to a potential juror without giving a reason, and there are also challenges for cause.
Hussain faces 20 counts of manslaughter and another 20 counts of criminally negligent homicide – one for each person who died.
Jurors can find him not guilty of both charges, or guilty of either one or the other.
The judge is still asking questions to a new panel of possible jurors. Then the prosecutor and defense attorney each get to do that.
When the trial gets started, it’s expected to last four to six weeks.