With jury selection nearly complete, the first murder trial against former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez could begin as soon as Tuesday, with opening statements.
Via the Associated Press, Judge E. Susan Garsh has cleared a pool of 53 potential jurors. The judge individually questioned the jurors in search of potential bias, a hardship that would prevent them from serving on a lengthy trial, or any other valid reason to be excused.
The lawyers for the prosecution and for Hernandez will be permitted to eliminate 18 potential jurors each from the panel. The goal will be to have 18 jurors (12 main jurors and six alternates) in place for Tuesday.
If my math is correct (and it rarely is), Judge Garsh will need to clear one more juror to allow 36 to be stricken by the parties. With only 53, striking 36 would leave 17.
Hernandez is accused of killing Odin Lloyd in June 2013. Hernandez faces two other murder charges from an incident in July 2012.