The retrial of Cara Rintala, accused in the murder of her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, is underway in Hampshire Superior Court. We'll have live updates throughout the day.
NORTHAMPTON -- The retrial of Cara Rintala, accused in the murder of her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, is underway in Hampshire Superior Court. Below, we'll have live updates throughout the day.
5:40 p.m.: The final jury pool member is dismissed. Nine were selected. Court resumes tomorrow.
5:15 p.m.: 10 jury pool members left.
Judge Rup has decided to go past 5 p.m. and complete interviews with today's jury pool, rather than call the last few back Wednesday.
The courthouse has closed; the third-floor jury selection room is very quiet - just the subdued conversation at the judges bench, followed by shoes echoing off the hardwood floor as more potential jurors are excused.
4:00 p.m.:Progress.
From more than 20 interviews, 2 more potential jurors have been selected, bringing the total to 6 with less than a half hour remaining.
The remaining 40 or so jury pool members are spread out on five rows of court benches, reading, knitting, yawning, stretching, squirming, chewing gum - whatever it takes to keep alert.
The sun has vanished from the windows; just a tangle of bare trees visible outside on Gothic Street.
2:30 p.m.: Jury selection has resumed and candidates are being dismissed almost as quickky as they approach the bench Five have been dismissed in the past few minutes since Rup returned to the bench after an hour recess.
The most optimistic date for opening arguments is Friday.
A second candidate just emerged from the sidebar, with a court officer referring to her as juror No. 2; like juror No. 1, she could be dismissed later if either the defense or the prosecution challenges her,
Late afternoon sunlight is streaming through the windows, giving the old courtroom on the third floor a pleasant, non-judicial glow.
Juror No. 3 has just been selected.
12:45 p.m.: The first six jury pool members were dismissed after interviews with Rup and lawyers for both sides. They were all members of the group indicating they had conflicts serving during a 4-5 week trial.
The interviews are conducted at the judge's bench, with most conversations inaudible to the rest of the courtroom.
A seventh potential juror was not dismissed, meaning he holds the title - for now, at least - of juror Number 1.
Within minutes, three more jury pool members are dismissed,
12:30 p..m.: Court is back in session, and Rup is outlining questions she will pose to jury pool members during individual interviews at the judge's bench.
Among them: does the fact that Rintala and the victim were lesbians and married to each other bother prospective jurors enough to impair their ability to be objective and fair?
11:45 a.m.: Rup poses a series of questions to jurors, including whether they have formed oppinions on the case, whether they would be too disturbed by graphic physical evidence to render an impartial verdict, and whether they object to the principal that defendants are innocent until proven guilty.
Only a few jurors raise hands in response to those questions.
Rup gives the jury pool a 15-minute break, reminding them to avoid talking to each other about the case.
11:00 a.m.: Rup says the trial should take 4-5 weeks, running 9 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
In response to a question from the judge, about 30 of approximately 100 potential jurors in the courtroom raised hands to show they would have a conflict serving for a 5-week trial; an even larger number raise hands after the judge asks if anyone has learned about the case from local media reports
About 35 jurors also indicate they know the outcome of the last trial.
10:40 a.m.: Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup is speaking to the first group of prospective jurors, reminding them of their responsibility to serve on juries; the vast majority of cases in Hampshire County are decided by juries,the judge said.
Noting that some people concoct excuses to dodge jury service, Rup advised against it, adding: "Let me assure you, we judges have heard it all."
Defendant Cara Rintala is sittiing at the defense table, with lawyers Luke Ryan and David Hoose.
Assistant District Attorney, the lead prosecutor, said earlier that 300 juror candidates will be called over the next 3 days, reflecting the difficulty in finding jurors in the case.