Five more jurors were seated on a jury for the murder trial of Paul Gutierrez Jr.

Friday, February 22, 2002

Five more jurors were seated on a jury for the murder trial of Paul Gutierrez Jr. Thursday, which means nine seats out of the 14 – 12 jurors and two alternates – are filled.

The selection was made through interviews on 12 prospective jurors. One interviewee did not show up.

The relatively speedy progress in the selection Thursday in comparison with the previous two days was as a result of more clarified knowledge about each party’s preference and profiling strategies for choosing jurors, according to County Attorney Craig Nelson.

The selection continues today behind a closed door in the court. Nelson speculated that it will be completed by the end of the day.

Next week, the court battle will start with opening statements by both defense and prosecutor, and a series of witness testimonies will follow.

Gutierrez is charged with the murder of 18-month-old Makaio Radke in Albert Lea last April. He is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder. It is the first murder trail in Freeborn County since 1992.