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Thurber Trial Starts Today

Update:

Forty-two jurors have been qualified in the capital murder trial of Justin Thurber.

The Cowley County attorney says the pool will be narrowed down to 12 jurors and four alternates on Friday.

The trial is set to begin in Arkansans City on Monday morning.

Update:

The capital murder trial of Justin Thurber will likely begin Monday morning.

Attorneys need to qualify four more potential jurors to make up the pool of 42. They'll choose the 12 members and up to four alternates from that group.

The Cowley County attorney says that process should begin Friday morning and wrap up later that day.

Thurber is accused of stalking and killing Jodi Sanderholm two years ago.

Update:

Attorneys qualified 2 more potential jurors Wednesday morning.  They have 27 so far and need 15 more.

Update:

Tuesday afternoon attorneys qualified 8 more potential jurors, bringing the total to 25.  Once they've found 17 more they'll choose the final 12 jurors and alternates from that list.

Update:

Attorneys in the capital murder trial against Just Thurber are five people closer to finding a jury. So far lawyers have qualified 17 potential jurors. There were fewer people to choose from Tuesday morning because the weather kept them home. The people who missed the morning panels will participate in later ones.

by Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.)

Jury selection has begun for the murder trial of the man accused of killing Jodi Sanderholm.  Justin Thurber is charged with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping.

Sanderholm disappeared from her hometown of Arkansas City in January 2007.  Her body was found four days later near the Kansas-Oklahoma border.

Attorneys are questioning 20 people per day, and 12 qualified to be seated as jurors on Monday.  Attorneys need 42 people for the jury pool.  After attorneys have what they need, they'll narrow the pool down to the final 12 men and women with four alternates.

Some potential jurors were dismissed Monday after admitting they already felt Justin Thurber is guilty of killing Sanderholm.  Others said they were too appalled by the details of the case.

Attorneys say they hope to start opening statements by next Monday, an attainable goal if they keep Monday's pace.

To see detailed accounts of Monday's proceedings from inside the courtroom, click the link above for Eyewitness News Reporter Cliff Judy's interactive blog.