Arrasmith Jury Selection Under Way
Twin Falls-area residents are being asked if they would acquit Kenneth Arrasmith, accused of killing a couple in Lewiston because he believed they sexually tortured his daughter.
“You want my opinion?” William Leedom asked court officials Thursday. “The man is not guilty.”
Defense lawyer Craig Mosman reminded the pool of 67 that Leedom was correct, in a manner of speaking. Arrasmith is innocent until proven otherwise, he said. Leedom was dismissed.
Arrasmith, 44, faces two counts of firstdegree murder in connection with the shooting deaths of Ronald and Luella Bingham at a Lewiston auto shop.
Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty if a jury convicts Arrasmith, a former Asotin County, Wash., sheriff’s deputy.
The selection is being held in Twin Falls because of extensive pretrial publicity in the Lewiston area.
Once picked, 12 jurors will board a bus and travel 398 miles to Lewiston, where the trial is scheduled to begin Monday. The selection continued Friday.
Lawyers asked potential jurors their feelings about child sexual abuse and whether they would take the law into their own hands.
Meanwhile, additional security measures are in store for the highprofile case at the Nez Perce County Courthouse, trial administrator Steve Caylor said.
Food, transportation and lodging for the jurors will cost the county at least $14,990, Caylor said. That does not include security officers and other workers.
xxxx NEXT Trial begins Monday in Lewiston.