RALEIGH — With two days completed in the trial of Grant Ruffin Hayes, the 12 people who will decide his fate have yet to be named.
Hayes is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of former Kinston resident Laura Jean Ackerson in July 2011.
Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens allowed two jurors to be excused Tuesday morning for personal reasons, putting new jurors in seats No. 6 and 12. State prosecutors finished their questions for prospective jurors, as well, asking jurors No. 5 and 10 to be released from their obligations.
With the addition of two additional new jurors, there are an equal number of men and women in the jury box, along with two military veterans.
As defense attorney Will Durham cycled through his questions, he asked prospective jurors if they would have a problem looking at images of Ackerson’s dismembered body or autopsy photos.
“As I discussed with (Juror No. 1),” Durham asked Juror No. 2, an architect, “the state will put into evidence that Mr. Hayes was involved in the disposal of Ms. Ackerson’s body. That’s not contested, and he’s not on trial here in regard to whether or not — especially whether or not he’s guilty of being involved with disposal of the body.”
Jurors No. 3 and 5 replied they have Army combat experience — No. 3 in Vietnam, and No. 5 in Afghanistan — and said they had experience in graphic imagery.
Each of the seven jurors questioned by the defense, though, said they would be able to seek a verdict without being profoundly affected by evidence presented.
Assistant District Attorney Boz Zellinger objected to what he said was an attempt to inject a murder defense into the questioning, calling it “self-serving hearsay.”
When the defense got to Juror No. 7, Durham attempted to strike him from the jury for cause because the juror has education in biblical counseling and expressed skepticism for psychology and the science behind it.
Stephens denied the motion since Juror No. 7 said he would not reject out of hand testimony by an expert witness on the psychological state of the people involved in the case, but instead give the testimony due consideration.
Juror No. 12 left the courtroom for a brief period following the 4 p.m. break because she injured her leg on a marble bench and had to be treated by EMS technicians.
When court reconvenes today, the defense will finish questioning of the final four jurors and recommend people to strike from the jury.
Jury selection resumes at 9:30 a.m. today at the Wake County Justice Center.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.