Jury In NC Trooper Death Trial Won't Be Local

Mary Lu Saylor

A judge says the jury that hears a trial in the slaying of a North Carolina trooper won't be local but the judge hasn't decided whether to move the trial.

By Associated Press
Published: June 30, 2009

» 0 Comments | Post a Comment

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (AP) - A judge says the jury that hears a trial in the slaying of a North Carolina trooper won't be local but the judge hasn't decided whether to move the trial.
Multiple media outlets reported that Superior Court Judge Nathaniel Poovey ruled late Monday that Edwardo Wong won't be judged by a Haywood County panel. Wong's lawyers have asked the trial be moved because of pretrial publicity.
Wong is charged with murder in the shooting death of Highway Patrol Trooper David Shawn Blanton Jr. Blanton was shot to death in June 2008 when he pulled over a rented car trailer that had no license plate.
Wong's trial is set for October. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty if Wong is convicted.