DURHAM, N.C. — Another juror has been selected in the Mike Peterson trial and the juror has a connection with the defendant. The ninth juror is a 37-year-old female nurse whose father is Peterson's dentist.
Peterson is charged with the death of his wife, Kathleen, at their Durham home in December 2001. On Tuesday, David Rudolf, Peterson's main defense attorney, asked the judge to dismiss one of the potential jurors for cause without even interviewing her.
Rudolf claimed the potential juror, a 50-year-old former nurse, has already formed an opinion about the case after hearing her answers to the prosecution's questioning. Rudolf also argued that the trial would place an unnecessary financial strain on the woman's family.
The judge agreed and the potential juror was dismissed.
So far, there are two men and seven women on the jury, of which three are white and six are African-American. Attorneys say they are cautiously optimistic that they could seat the remaining jurors by the end of the week but they will still need four alternates.
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