WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-- Jury selection continued Friday in the trial of Nouman Raja, the former Palm Beach Gardens Police Officer accused of manslaughter and attempted first degree murder of Corey Jones in 2015.
A few potential jurors told a judge Friday that their ties to law enforcement could keep them from being fair in the trial.
"So it's very important to me that you're not going to give any special treatment to somebody just because they're wearing a uniform, can everyone promise me that?" asked Judge Joseph Marx of the jurors.
A few jury candidates who say they have family members in law enforcement couldn't make that promise.
"I would say I do have a bias toward the credibility," said one prospective juror. "And a bias you don't think you could put aside?" asked Judge Marx. "I would be challenged," said the juror.
And then, the judge warned of another important topic that lawyers will dig deeper on Monday. "There may be some discussions about race," said Judge Marx.
In 2015, 31-year-old Jones was shot and killed by Raja on the off ramp of I-95 in Palm Beach Gardens.
"I am a black man and you see this is all the time. I don't want to say it's normal, but it feels normal when you turn on the news and your hear black man killed," said a possible juror.
Potential jurors who have formed opinion or feelings about either Jones or Raja are dismissed.
The judge has also ordered anyone inside the courtroom to not wear any shirts with messages or symbols favoring either side of the case so jurors are not influenced.
More than 60 prospective jurors will be returning for round two of questioning Monday.
25 jurors who say they know nothing about the case are sent home to return Monday with 38 other jurors who don't know anything about the case. That leaves state and defense attorneys with 63 jurors to work with Monday for more questioning before they seat a jury. #Rajatrial @WPTV
— Michelle Quesada (@M_Quesada) February 22, 2019
