FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE ON CAPITAL MURDER TRIAL OF JOE ESTRADA

San Antonio, Texas: January 15, 2010

This is a case status update for your information in relation to the State of Texas v. Joe Estrada. The jury selection recessed this afternoon and will continue Tuesday morning. The defense filed a Challenge to the Jury Array seeking to dismiss the entire jury panel. A hearing was held this morning on their motion and the defendant’s motion was denied. To date, twenty eight (28) potential jurors have been examined. Of those, ten (10) have been qualified to serve but no jurors have been seated. Because of the necessity of interviewing potential jurors out of order, the normal exercise of strikes was not implemented. Thus, no jurors have been seated and the remaining announcements of peremptory strikes have not yet been made. Several potential jurors were excused for cause and the State has so far exercised one strike.

For more information, contact District Attorney Susan Reed at 335-2342.