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Potential jurors face questions in Ocoee home invasion case

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Dozens of potential jurors faced questions as lawyers tried to seat a jury in an Ocoee home invasion case Wednesday.

Lawyers began questioning potential jurors late Wednesday morning in the case against Bessman Okafor and Nolan Bernard.

Okafor is on trial in connection with the home invasion, but is also facing additional charges after prosecutors said he returned to the house and killed one of the three home invasion victims, Alex Zaldivar. It is his first of two trials.

A lot of the prospective jurors have heard about the case.

Three people came to the judge Wednesday and said they inadvertently found out more information about the case, including that a murder was somehow involved. The three were excused.

Six people told prosecutors they were excited or looking forward to serving on the jury.

But some others tried to get out of it by claiming new hardship.

Even though the killing is not part of the trial, potential juror #94, who said her husband was killed years ago, said she lost sleep Tuesday night worried about what she might have to see and hear.

"All the images started, um, coming back and I'm going like, the first thing that came to mind, 'Are they going to have pictures?' And I was like, 'Oh my God, I don't want to do this,'" she said.

Lawyers continued questioning the potential jurors after lunch.

Many of the potential jurors also have either been arrested or know people who have. But, most of them said they believe law enforcement treated them fairly, which is more bad news for the defendants.

The judge is hoping to seat the jury on Thursday.