As jury selection continues in the trial of Anthony Garcia, the presiding judge makes a decision on if the county should help pay for his defense.
Garcia is charged in the murders of Thomas Hunter and Shirlee Sherman in 2008, and Dr. Roger and Mary Brumback in 2013. Prosecutors say they were revenge killings because Garcia was fired from the Creighton Pathology Department in 2001 and struggled to find work.
Douglas County District Court Judge Gary Randall ruled that Garcia couldn't help pay for his defense anymore, and ordered Douglas County to pay $25,000 to help fund expert testimony in his defense. The judge signed the order on Tuesday. The money will go to his counsel's trust account, and his attorneys will have to provide documentation for all expenses.
\By midday on Tuesday, attorneys and Judge Randall had individually questioned more than 60 of the 109 potential jurors. So far, 14 have been dismissed. After all potential jurors have been questioned, they plan to have all of them in the courtroom to start further procedures. A total of 12 jurors and 4 alternates will be selected. It's unclear when jury selection will end and opening arguments will begin.
