Seven Jurors Seated In Accused Cop Killer's Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Attorneys have now selected seven jurors to hear testimony in the trial against Richard Poplawski, the man who's accused of gunning down three Pittsburgh Police officers during a standoff in Stanton Heights two years ago.
Officers Eric Kelly, Paul Sciullo II and Stephen Mayhle all died while responding to a domestic call at Poplawski's Fairfield Street home on April 4, 2009.
Jury selection began this morning in Harrisburg.
A pool of 350 potential jurors will be available for the trial.
After interviewing the first 40 potential jurors, attorneys selected seven jurors - four men and three women, ranging in profession from corporate executive to accountant to nurse.
Of the first 40 potential jurors questioned, 13 said the prospect of deciding life or death would be a problem for them.
Only 9 of the 40 said they had read or head about the case; and only 5 of the 40 said traveling to Pittsburgh for the two-week trial would present a hardship for them.
The out-of town jury will then be brought back to Pittsburgh for Poplawski's trial, which is set to begin on June 20th.
Late last week, a judge ruled that jurors would not be allowed to see a 41-page report containing Poplawski's rants in an online blog.
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