Jury selection, day 4

A jury has been selected to decide Neil Entwistle's fate. Today began with a new pool of 70 jurors to fill just one remaining seaet. After the jurors filled out the jury questionnaire, they were individually questioned by the judge, and the ones who were qualified to serve could be challenged by the prosecution and defense. As expected, there were plenty of jurors to fill the one remaining seat after both sides had the opportunity to use their challenges.

The jury consists of eight men and eight women, and most of them seem to be fairly young. It is not yet clear which 12 individuals will compose the actual jury and which four will be alternates.

Additionally, Judge Kottmyer ruled today that the jury will not get to view Entwistle's house in Hopkinton or his in-laws' house in Carver. She said that the locations of the houses and the arrangement of the rooms can be explained just as effectively with diagrams and videos. Additionally, the furniture and other items in the homes may have changed since the time of the alleged murders, especially in the Entwistle house, which has new owners. This, said the judge, could prejudice jurors. Elliot Weinstein objected to the decision, arguing that visiting the houses is the best way for jurors to understand the spatial arrangements and the only way to guarantee Entwistle's right to "the fullest and fairest trial possible." Although the judge denied his motion for a viewing, she gave him the option of renewing it in the future.

Court was dismissed early today, shortly after the jury was impaneled. Opening statements are set to take place tomorrow, so stay tuned.