Jury Selection Begins in ’69 Race-Riot Trial
Jury selection began in York in the murder trial of a former mayor and two other white men accused of killing a young black woman during a 1969 race riot.
The courtroom rumbled when 110 of the 111 prospective jurors stood up in positive response to the judge’s question on whether they had heard of the case. None stood when the judge asked whether the race of the defendants or the victim would prejudice judgment.
In addition to former Mayor Charlie Robertson, two former gang members--Robert Messersmith and Greg Neff--are on trial in the slaying of Lillie Belle Allen.
If convicted of first-degree murder, each of the three defendants could be sentenced to life in prison.
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