Before sending the jury off today, Judge Roland Steinle broke down the staggering numbers that have gone into the Dale Hausner trial: 150 witnesses, 1,150 pieces of evidence and nearly 70 days of testimony over the course of five months.
Attorneys began selecting jurors nearly six months ago, and today, those who made the cut finally got the chance to consider Hausner’s fate. At a few minutes after noon, the 20-person jury was sliced into two parts: 12 who would decide the verdict, and eight who would be back ups, just in case. The second string was chosen at random, with their assigned numbers picked from a bowl.
Steinle told the jury he was amazed the original pool of 20 people was still in tact at the end of the trial. “I would really really like to have all 20 of your deliberate,” Steinle told them. “It’s not possible in the criminal case.”
With that, he sent the eight alternates home for the day and asked the remaining 12 to start discussing the case. It is now up to them to make a decision.
Stay tuned: Heat City will bring you the verdict live as it happens. An announcement could come at a moment’s notice.