Jury Field Cut to 70 in Haun Case
About 70 prospective jurors have been ordered back to Santa Barbara Superior Court next week as jury selection in the murder trial of Diana Haun continues.
The candidates were selected from a field of about 225 residents from southern Santa Barbara County, summoned specifically for the case. Most were excused this week after claiming financial and personal hardships.
With the trial estimated to last through October, many residents said their employers would not compensate them while serving on such a lengthy case.
The 70 or so called back for further questioning have been scheduled for individual interviews with the judge and attorneys starting on Monday.
Haun, 36, is charged with murder, kidnapping and conspiracy for allegedly abducting and killing the wife of her lover.
Although the trial will be held in Ventura, a Santa Barbara jury is being picked to hear the case because of excessive pretrial publicity in Ventura County, a judge ruled.
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