Jury Seated in trial of a former Winnfield Police Officer Charged in a Taser Death

Posted: Oct 20, 2010 3:49 PM by AP
Updated: Oct 20, 2010 3:59 PM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A jury has been seated in the manslaughter trial of former Winnfield Police Officer Scott Nugent, who is accused in the Taser death of a man he arrested.

It took eight days before the panel was seated Wednesday and came only after the district attorney asked to move the trial citing the disproportionate number of black Winn Parish residents who had been excused from jury duty because they'd formed strong opinions about the case.

Opening arguments were scheduled for Thursday morning after the judge refused to move the trial.

District Judge John Joyce also clamped a gag order on everyone involved in the trial, and court officials refused to discuss the makeup of the jury.

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