GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A double pool of potential jurors will be called, and an extra alternate juror may be seated at an upcoming murder trial due to concerns about COVID-19.
Andres Garcia-Saenz, 24, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for allegedly stabbing Douglas Campbell 175 times in March, 2020.
In court Monday, the attorneys and Judge Marc Hammer agreed that a double pool of prospective jurors – 90 people instead of 45 – will be summonsed to court for jury selection on Jan. 24. The parties cited health concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason.
A criminal jury has 12 members. It’s common to have 14 jurors seated to hear the case, so that in case someone has to leave the trial, it can continue. In this case, a third alternate may be seated as a precaution. If more than 12 jurors remain at the end of closing arguments, the alternates are then removed, and the remaining 12 would deliberate.
The trial is scheduled to last five days.
According to the criminal complaint, after a March 17, 2020 welfare check police found Campbell’s body and the Trager Street home appeared to have been ransacked.
The investigation led them to Garcia-Saenz. At his residence, they found Campbell’s clothing, credit cards, ID, shoes, and other items. He repeatedly denied any involvement in the murder, and offered varying explanations for his time at Campbell’s home and why he had Campbell’s possessions.
DNA test results show samples likely from both Garcia-Saenz and Campbell on the handle of a bloody hammer found at the scene.
Comments