Mary Tutwiler

Marinello pre-trial jury selection begins today

by Mary Tutwiler

If you can’t find a parking spot in the downtown garage this morning, it’s because a pool of 500 potential jurors from Lafayette Parish are reporting to the courthouse for jury pre-qualifications for the Vince Marinello murder trial. Marinello, a well known New Orleans sportscaster, stands accused of the second degree murder of his wife, Liz Marinello. She was shot in a parking lot in Old Metarie in broad daylight. The trial was moved to Lafayette because of the difficulty in seating an impartial jury in New Orleans, due to the publicity that followed Marinello’s arrest after the September 1, 2006 murder. Potential jurors are being asked questions today to see if they can be exempted for jury duty. Jury selection for the trial begins December 1.