Thursday, 4:30 PM
A slow jury selection underway in Cape Cod murder trial
(Globe file photos)
Christopher M. McCowen, 34, (left) is accused of killing Christa Worthington, 46, (right) in a murder trial on Cape Cod loaded with class and racial undertones.
By Megan Tench, Globe Staff, and Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent
BARNSTABLE – Jury selection got off to a slow start today in the trial of a man charged with the 2002 murder of a fashion writer on Cape Cod as a judge wrestled with prejudice and the influence of intense publicity.
A pool of almost 70 jurors was sworn in this morning at Barnstable Superior Court in a closely watched case that thrust this small beach town into a national spotlight. The long-awaited trial is expected to touch issues of race and class as it details the death of a white Vassar-educated journalist who prosecutors say was killed by a black trash collector.
Christa Worthington, 46, was found in January 2002 two days after she was killed, lying half-naked on her kitchen floor. Christopher M. McCowen, a 34-year-old trash collector, is charged with armed burglary and rape as well as murder, and could face life in prison if convicted.
About a dozen journalists watched today's proceedings, including reporters from Court TV and People magazine.
By mid-afternoon, Judge Gary Nickerson had seated six jurors needed for the 16-member panel. At least three dozen potential jurors were excused for reasons that ranged from medical problems to admitted racial biases.
The jurors, who were not identified by name, were asked a series of questions by the judge. One man, known only as juror number two, told the Nickerson that he thought that blacks were more likely than whites to commit a crime.
When the judge asked why, the man said it was something that had become ingrained in him because of his "father's upbringing."
Asked as whole if any if any of the jurors had prejudices that would influence them during trial, six people raised their hands. Another 16 jurors said they had already formed an opinion in the case because of press coverage. Fourteen jurors told the judge they would have trouble remaining impartial.
Eighteen more jurors said that they knew at least one of the 130 witnesses who may be called to testify during the trial, another complication of a tight-knit community such as Cape Cod.
The day began with Nickerson rejecting two motions by defense attorney Robert George, including a request for a change of venue because of the publicity and racial undertones of the case. Nickerson, however, agreed to revisit the change of venue motion if picking a jury proved too difficult.
Jury selection will continue on Tuesday. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.
