CONCORD - Jury selection is almost complete in the Lisa Louise Greene double-murder trial after nine days of questioning.
Ten jurors have been chosen as of Thursday and Judge Robert Bell (Mecklenburg) told attorneys he expected to have all 12 jurors and two to three alternates chosen by the middle of next week.
Jury selection began Oct. 8 as Assistant District Attorney Ashlie Shanley and Greene’s attorneys, Lisa Dubs and Robert Campbell, quizzed potential jurors on their views of the death penalty, their knowledge of the case and their ability to decide the case regardless of outside factors.
At least four jurors were excused because their religious or personal views wouldn’t allow them to sentence anyone to death. Almost all of the jurors questioned said they had heard of the case in the news, but would be able to make a decision based solely on court proceedings.
Greene, 42, has remained predominantly stoic during jury selection. However, the first day during pretrial motions, she appeared animated and continually turned to her supporters to show excitement or anger at certain rulings.
The jury will be paid $12 for the first day of service, $20 the second through the fifth and $40 each additional day. The trial is expected to last four weeks, not including a sentencing phase, which could add a possible two weeks, court officials said.
After jury selection is complete, pre-trial hearings are scheduled to begin, including suppression of an alleged confession Greene made to arson investigators days after the fire.
The “guilt or innocence” phase of the trial could begin as early as Oct. 29, court officials said.
Greene is accused of killing her two children by setting her Midland trailer on fire on Jan. 10, 2006. Daniel Macemore, 10, and Addison Macemore, 8, died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning from the fire. She is also charged with arson, possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia.
If convicted, jurors would have to decide between sentencing her to life in prison or the death penalty. If sentenced to death, she would be the first woman to receive that sentence in Cabarrus County’s history.
