Susan Smith Jury Complete; Trial to Begin Tuesday

Lawyers in the double-murder trial of a young woman who confessed to drowning her sons finished selecting a jury Saturday, clearing the way for trial to start Tuesday. Susan Smith faces the death penalty.

The 12-member panel includes nine men and three women who were selected from among 55 candidates over six days. Many of the prospective jurors expressed strong opinions against the death penalty.

Smith, 23, is charged with first-degree murder for letting her car roll into a lake last October with Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months, strapped in the back seat.

On Saturday, lawyers chose two alternate jurors, which was fewer than the six initially requested by the judge.

“The trial’s not going to last as long as he [the judge] thought it would last,” said June Miller, the Union County court clerk.

Hearings are set for Monday and opening arguments Tuesday.

State psychiatrists say Smith was suicidal on Oct. 25, when the crimes were committed. They have deemed her competent to stand trial but said her mental state may cause her to hurt her defense if she were to testify.