Jury Selection Begins in Triple-Murder Trial

Under questioning from attorneys, prospective jurors in a case involving the slaying of three children grappled Tuesday with their views on capital punishment and their ability to withstand months of disturbing testimony.

About 75 candidates packed the courtroom of Ventura County Superior Court Judge Donald D. Coleman on the first day of jury selection. Prosecution and defense lawyers may talk to as many as 225 prospects during the arduous process, which is expected to take at least two weeks.

At stake is the future of Socorro “Cora” Caro, who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of three of her sons, ages 11, 7, and 5, as they slept in the family’s Santa Rosa Valley home. A fourth son, now 3, was unharmed in the Nov. 22, 1999, attack.

The defense hopes to prove that Caro’s husband, Northridge rheumatologist Xavier Caro, framed his wife, according to court documents.

Caro, 44, has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. If convicted, she faces either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A number of prospective jurors on Tuesday expressed moral and religious reservations about imposing the death penalty.

One man said he was “old-fashioned enough” to have second thoughts about the execution of women. He also said that, while he did not oppose the death penalty, his wife did so strenuously.

“The long-term effects on our relationship are unpredictable,” he said.

The man was excused.

Others voiced the belief that anyone convicted of killing children should automatically receive the death penalty.

“I’d have a hard time putting that belief aside,” a woman said in response to questions from Deputy Dist. Atty. Cheryl Temple.

Convicted killers of children do not receive a mandatory death sentence in California. Caro is facing the possibility of capital punishment because she is accused of several killings.

Sitting in the blue plush chairs of the courtroom’s jury box, prospective jurors glanced from time to time at Caro. They voiced uneasiness about being required to view some of the evidence in the case, including graphic photographs of the crime scene.

“I’ve got eight grandchildren,” a woman explained, her voice trailing off.

About 750 county residents were summoned earlier this month for jury service in the highly publicized case. Most were excused because their employers would not compensate them for a trial that could last four months.

If Caro is found guilty, the jury also will hear testimony on her claim of insanity. Jurors may spend yet more time--confronting additional emotional turmoil--if required to make a recommendation on capital punishment.

One woman asked whether she might confer with a psychologist during the trial if she were excessively upset by the experience. Coleman said that would be possible.

Also at issue were potential conflicts of interest.

A woman who had known a potential witness in the case since they were in grade school together was excused.

A retired firefighter was asked whether he might give testimony from firefighters greater weight than that of other witnesses.

“I think, if anything, I might be a little more critical,” he said.