Jury selection began Wednesday in the murder trial of Jason Riley King who is accused of driving while intoxicated and killing two UCSD medical students in 2015.
Lengthy questionnaires were distributed to potential jurors and attorneys and San Diego Superior Court Judge Joan Weber will look at them this week and next week. Opening statements and testimony is tentatively set for Tuesday, Jan. 9, depending on the progress of jury selection.
King, a Marine who is now 24, is accused of two counts of murder, two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in the May 15, 2015, deaths of Anne Baldock, 24, of La Jolla, and Madison Cornwell, 23, of Mission Viejo. He is also accused of severely injuring a 31-year-old passenger from La Jolla and two others.
Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright said earlier King was partying that night with other Marines at a hotel in Mission Beach. She said his friends tried to repeatedly stop him from driving as he left. King was seriously injured in the crash himself.
The questionnaires ask potential jurors if they have heard of this case before, their opinions on drunk driving, the law, and many standard questions such as their prior juror service, if they have any relatives in law enforcement and if they can keep an open mind. The questionnaires take about 1 1/2 hours to complete per juror.
During deliberations, jurors will have the option to convict King of two counts of second-degree murder or two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated or acquittal. King has pleaded not guilty. He remains in jail on $3 million bail.