Jurors being selected for Patterson murder trial

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- The Pemiscot County jury that will decide the fate of Ryan Patterson is expected to be finalized today, with the 12 jurors and two alternates scheduled to begin hearing opening statements in Jackson on Monday.

Patterson is the accused trigger man in the October 2009 murder of Jamie Orman, her 15-year-old son Derrick and her unborn child. If convicted, Patterson faces the death penalty.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys whittled the potential jury pool of 93 to 43 on Thursday, according to Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. On Wednesday, potential jurors answered a six-page form asking their views on several topics, including the death penalty, he said. That made questioning Thursday easier, he said.

Ryan Patterson

The lawyers will spend today getting the remaining 43 slimmed down to 12, with two alternates, Swingle said.

Authorities say Patterson and his accomplice, Samuel Hughes, went to the home of John Lawrence at the urging of Lawrence's estranged wife, Michelle Lawrence. The two were there to kill John Lawrence and burn down the house, according to the prosecution's version of events, but John Lawrence wasn't home. Authorities say Patterson instead shot his girlfriend, Orman, and her son.

In December, Hughes pleaded guilty to being the lookout in the murder in exchange for testimony against Patterson. Michelle Lawrence pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy to commit murder.

Following today's proceedings, Swingle said the finalized jury will be excused until Sunday night, when they will be brought to Cape Girardeau County in preparation for the five-day trial to start at 9 a.m. Monday. Swingle said he expects the trial to be concluded by Aug. 5.