(Getty Images/Jared Wickerham)FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) - A jury is expected to be seated next week in the murder trial of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez.
Superior Court Judge Susan Garsh has cleared 53 potential jurors as of Friday after individually questioning them to weed out people who are biased, have a hardship or have a valid reason to be excused.
Lawyers from both sides will have the chance to eliminate 18 people each from the final pool Monday for any reason using what's called peremptory challenges. Eighteen jurors will be seated.
If 18 jurors cannot be seated from that group, the judge is expected to resume individual questioning.
Opening statements could be as soon as Tuesday.
Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to killing semiprofessional football player Odin Lloyd in 2013.
