Charged with the 2021 double murder of Trigg County residents and family members Sue Faris and Matthew Blakeley, jury selection for Landon Stinson began early Monday morning in Judge Natalie White’s circuit court.
However, officials with the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office indicate this process could take considerable time this week — and that the prosecution is “anticipating” not being able to begin presenting its burden of proof until Thursday morning.
After two panels of pool jurors were subjected to a questionnaire, some were dismissed Monday, and all remaining jurors are to report at 9 AM Tuesday for individual questioning on the subject of “pre-trial publicity” and availability.
Only then can the jury strike begin.
White opened the trial window until September 28, and has made it repeatedly clear in the last 18 months that any prospective panel must be prepared for lengthy proceedings.
Furthermore, Stinson’s defense team — headed up by long-time attorneys Bill Deatherage and Chris Woodall — have indicated through multiple filings that jury selection will take time, especially after a motion for change of venue was withdrawn, and a motion to close proceedings to the public and media was denied.
While the death penalty has been removed “at the request” of an unnamed family member, Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins notified White at the last hearing that aggravators in the case, if guilt is determined, could result in life imprisonment and a lengthy parole wait.
