Selection of Dally Jury Resumes

After a three-week hiatus, jury selection continued Monday in the murder trial of Michael Dally as prospective jurors answered questions about their views on the death penalty and various legal issues.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys plan to interview 221 possible jury candidates from Santa Barbara County during the next three weeks. Opening statements in the high-profile murder case are expected to begin Feb. 9.

Dally, 37, is charged with murder, kidnapping and conspiracy for allegedly plotting the killing of his wife, Sherri, with his former girlfriend, Diana Haun. Haun was found guilty of the same charges last year and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

As in Haun’s trial, a Santa Barbara County jury is being sought for Dally’s because of heavy pretrial publicity in Ventura County.

Before the holidays, lawyers screened more than 500 potential jurors. The majority was excused because of the financial or personal hardships a long trial would create.

On Monday, the next phase of jury selection began as potential jurors deemed able to serve appeared in a small Santa Barbara courtroom for individual interviews. They were questioned by the lawyers and Judge Charles W. Campbell Jr. on a wide range of subjects.

Of 15 questioned, 10 were excused and five were asked to return for a third phase of questioning Feb. 2. That day, lawyers on both sides will be able to reject candidates for any reason before settling on a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates.

Although prosecutors say Haun was the one who fatally stabbed Sherri Dally in the chest at least 18 times, they believe Michael Dally helped orchestrate the killing.

Much of the questioning focused on the death penalty and the alternate punishment of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

If Dally is found guilty of first-degree murder and at least one of two special-circumstance allegations in the case, the same jury would have to decide the punishment.