Jury Picked in Westmoreland County Murder Trial
A jury has tentatively been selected to hear evidence in the first-degree murder case of an AWOL soldier accused of beating and stabbing to death a Ligonier businessman two years ago.
Eight women and four men were chosen over the last four days for the trial of Anthony Blaine Mowry, 20, of Unity, who is charged with the Sept. 17, 2008, murder of 75-year-old William McMichael Jones.
Six jurors were selected yesterday to fill out the panel.
Earlier in the day, Westmoreland County Judge Al Bell dismissed one woman after her Utah-based employer sent a letter that said she could not miss three weeks of work to serve as a juror on the trial.
The defense excluded another juror who had been chosen Wednesday after it was discovered he is friends with a state trooper.
Attorneys will attempt to select two alternate jurors today.
Opening arguments are slated to begin Tuesday.