12 jurors will decide the fate of Officer Jason Van Dyke, and opening statements will begin next week. NBC 5’s Regina Waldroup sets the stage for one of the biggest trials in Chicago’s recent history.
What to Know
- The final jurors in the case were selected Thursday, but the 12th juror and five alternate jurors have not yet been sworn in
- The judge has not yet ruled on motions filed by Van Dyke's defense team aiming to move the trial outside of Cook County
- Van Dyke is charged with murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old McDonald nearly four years ago
Follow along live from the courtroom below.
Defense attorneys announced Friday they have decided to have a jury hear the high-profile murder trial of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke.
Several parts of the trial hinged on the decision following days of jury selection.
The final jurors in the case were selected Thursday, but the 12th juror and five alternate jurors were not sworn in as Judge Vincent Gaughan gave defense attorney Dan Herbert a day to decide whether or not they wanted a bench or a jury trial.
Gaughan has not yet ruled on motions filed by Van Dyke's defense team aiming to move the trial outside of Cook County due to extensive news coverage of the shooting, a topic the larger-than-usual pool of 200 potential jurors were believed to be questioned on. Gaughan said he would not rule on the change of venue request until the full jury has been sworn in.
Gaughan also denied a request by Van Dyke's defense team seeking to dismiss the current jury panel because prospective jurors had to pass protesters who held signs that said their client had been "guilty of racist murder." The judge said the jurors selected did not indicate they were intimidated by protesters outside the courthouse.
Court was expected to resume Monday.
Van Dyke is charged with murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old McDonald nearly four years ago.
The Chicago police officer was captured on dashcam video shooting McDonald 16 times the night of Oct. 20, 2014, on the city's Southwest Side. He was charged with six counts of first-degree murder in November 2015, and 16 counts of aggravated battery in March 2017.
Van Dyke entered a plea of not guilty.
In August 2016, CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson recommended Van Dyke's firing to the Chicago Police Board, who halted the proceedings until the criminal case against Van Dyke was complete. He remains suspended from the department without pay.
9:40 a.m.: Jason Van Dyke’s attorney wanted the current jury dismissed because they had to walk past the protests while entering court this week. Judge Gaughan denied that request.
9:16 a.m.: Judge Gaughan says that the jurors who were chosen, never indicated that they were intimidated by the protesters in front of the courthouse.
9:13 a.m.: Judge Gaughan will not rule on Change of Venue motion until the full jury has been sworn in.
9:10 a.m.: It will be a jury trial for Jason Van Dyke
