Trial timeline surfaces as Donald Smith jury selection begins

Jacksonville, FL — A judge has started the process of paring 300 prospective jurors down to just 12 and four alternates, in the case against Donald Smith.

Monday marked the start of jury selection, and a few people have already been dismissed because of pre-planned travel and appointments that can't be rescheduled. The majority of the cuts will start Tuesday, after the prospects were sent home on Monday with a questionnaire to fill out. Possible jurors have also been instructed not to speak about this case with each other or do any research on their own, which is standard for these proceedings. The defense again raised concerns about being able to seat an impartial panel- giving Smith a fair trial- because of the attention this case has garnered in the media.

Smith is facing trial for the 2013 kidnapping, rape, and murder of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle. The girl was taken from her family at a Northside Walmart, after Smith befriended her mother and offered to buy them clothing.

Judge Mallory Cooper expects jury selection to last much of this week. Tentatively, she’s slating arguments in the case to begin Monday. If convicted, the penalty phased would take place over a few days the week after that.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in this case.