BOISE, Idaho — Opening statements begin Wednesday in the high-profile murder trial of Chad Daybell after narrowing down the potential jury pool of 57 people to 18 on Monday.
The court is in recess on Tuesday and is scheduled to reconvene Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in Ada County, where 18 jury members will hear opening statements for the anticipated several-weeks-long trial.
Daybell, who is accused of murdering his wife Tammy Daybell, and Lori Vallow's two children Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, faces the death penalty if found guilty.
In the first week, the court selected 57 potential jurors to move forward to peremptory challenges. The court had initially only sought 50 potential jurors, however, to help create a "buffer" of sorts in case of a no-show or emergency scenario, an additional seven people were chosen and added to the pool.
The court went through preemptory challenges Monday, April 8 at 10 a.m. and concluded at approximately noon. During the court session, they narrowed down the potential pool from 57 to 18.
The jury is comprised of 10 men and eight women. Of the 18 selected, six will be alternates. However, jurors will not be made aware they are alternates until later in the court proceedings, closer to deliberations.
Judge Steven Boyce decided not to livestream Monday's hearing to protect the identities of the jurors.
The first week of trial focused on jury selection, with 16 jurors added Monday, four added Tuesday, 17 chosen on Wednesday and 15 on Thursday. The court was at the total of 52 at that point, but on Friday, decided to call another panel of jurors to create the buffer of additional jurors. The court concluded on Friday with 57 potential jurors.
Court will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10 for opening statements.
On Tuesday, the judge overseeing the case extended a gag order enacted on March 28, barring attorneys from speaking to the media. The original order was until April 15, but after consideration, the gag order will remain in place until the end of the trial.
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