SAN ANGELO, TX – This morning, several area residents waited outside the Tom Green County Courthouse to serve their community through jury duty. Potential jurors lined the steps and front of the courthouse until after 9 a.m.
Many who showed up didn’t realize they were going to spend the entire day going through jury selection, but that’s what happens in murder cases. Sometimes, jury selection can take several days.
Overall, there are a few cases being tried this week, including that of 47-year-old Stephano Miguel Culbreath, who faces Murder, a first degree felony enhanced, and Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1>=1g<4G, a third degree felony enhanced to a second degree felony.
On or about July 25, 2015, Culbreath “intentionally and knowingly” caused the death of David Titus by shooting him with a firearm. For more information on Culbreath’s charges, visit our previous stories here, here, here and here.
Today, approximately 87 potential jurors filed into Judge Ben Woodward’s court. District Attorney Allison Palmer began with her jury selection questioning, and Defense Attorney Jessica Skinner finalized the Defense’s after 5 p.m.
During jury selection, Culbreath sat calmly in a black business suit and glasses, which made him look more like a colleague to the defense attorneys surrounding him rather than the suspect of a murder trial.
At times, Culbreath appeared frustrated, no different than the potential jurors, for having to sit through the many questions that took the entire day to get through.
However, when both the State and Defense finalized group questioning and asked specific questions of certain individuals, Culbreath took notes and watched on intently.
At 5:08 p.m., Culbreath and his Defense team exited the courtroom, and jurors waited, many impatiently, for word of a selected jury. By 5:43 p.m., Culbreath and his attorneys re-entered the courtroom. Judge Woodward announced the jury had been selected.
The court called out 12 jurors consisting of seven women and five men. Two alternates, a male and female, were also chosen.
“It’s been a long day,” Judge Woodward told the released citizens. “You provided a great service to the community.”
Immediately following jury selection, Woodward reviewed the jury process, and Palmer read the indictment while standing in front of Culbreath and his attorneys.
After her reading, Judge Woodward asked, “How does the Defendant plead?”
“Not guilty, sir,” Culbreath said loudly, with confidence.
Beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Culbreath’s trial will resume with opening statements.
Woodward encouraged the selected jurors to get some rest because they will need it for the trial ahead.
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