ORLANDO, Fla. — Many of the hundreds of people called in as potential jurors for Markeith Loyd's first murder trial have been dismissed because they either are familiar with the case or are opposed to the death penalty.
Loyd faces the death penalty if he is convicted of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon.
After that trial, he also faces another first-degree murder trial in the death of Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton.
Channel 9 reporter Field Sutton said the vast majority of potential jurors are being disqualified because they're too opinionated on one of any number of topics.
Loyd's lawyer is accusing potential jurors if plotting to infiltrate the accused cop-killer's case, as he questioned their truthfulness and motives Thursday.
"It sounded like you didn't know much," said Loyd's lawyer Terence Lenamon to a potential juror from the Navy, who is also a lawyer. "Then it turned out you know the police officer was murdered. So as a lawyer and a former prosecutor, I'm wondering whether you are downplaying what you know because you want to sit on this jury."
The Navy lawyer is headed through to the next round of jury duty.
Sutten said several potential jurors Wednesday morning have objected to the death penalty on religious or moral grounds.
"I'm a Catholic and a Christian, and I don't believe that someone should take someone else's life," a potential juror said.
Sutton said added media attention to the case has also complicated the jury selection process, with potential jurors having been exposed to details of the case.
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"I went to work on Monday and everyone knew I'd been at jury selection. They knew this case was going on, and they figured I must have been sitting in this case," one potential juror said.
Another potential juror expressed uneasiness about the death penalty.
"It's never really easy -- the idea of putting someone to death," the juror said. "I know we have laws requiring it, but it just makes me feel weird."
The court is scheduled to bring in an entirely new panel of 500 people to assess for the jury Friday.
Stay tuned to Eyewitness News for updates and follow Field Sutton on Twitter for live coverage from the courtroom.
Day 3 of jury selection in Markeith Loyd's first murder trial begins shortly. I'm in the courtroom awaiting the arrival of all parties. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/1zvr2Fsjbl
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 2, 2019
Two of the potential jurors say they'd be unable to vote for the death penalty. Three of them know who Markeith Loyd is. None say they've formed an opinion as to Loyd's guilt. #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) October 2, 2019
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