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Jury selection to continue in death penalty case

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After three and a half days of jury selection for the Jordan Clemons homicide trial, attorneys chose seven people for the 16-member panel.

Jury selection began Wednesday with Washington County Judge Gary Gilman posing group questions to 151 potential jurors. On Thursday, potential jurors were placed into groups of 20 to be interviewed individually. Assistant District Attorney Chad Schneider said each potential juror is being asked a series of 85 questions that touch on varying qualifications for the case. Additionally, potential jurors were required to fill out a questionnaire that posed questions about the death penalty, among other things.

The prosecution is seeking the death penalty. Twelve people will serve as jurors, with four others to be chosen as alternates.

Clemons, 26, formerly of Canonsburg, is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, 21-year-old Karissa Kunco of Pittsburgh, in January 2012 and dumping her body in a wooded area of Mt. Pleasant Township. Kunco was last seen alive Jan. 11, 2012. State police allege after killing her, Clemons dragged her naked body into the woods along Sabo Road and covered it with leaves, brush and a tree stump. Kunco, whose throat was cut, had a protection-from-abuse order against Clemons.

Defense attorney Brian Gorman declined to say if Clemons would testify during the trial, which is expected to start May 4. In the past, Gorman argued head injuries Clemons suffered while playing football and in several vehicle accidents, plus years of drug abuse, diminished his mental capacity. Any brain injury Clemons experienced could have been a factor in his ability to form criminal intent, Gorman said in court documents.

Schneider plans to call roughly 20 witnesses, including Kunco’s parents.

Clemons also faces charges from a home invasion in Canonsburg Jan. 8, 2012, and is charged with flight to avoid apprehension in connection with an alleged assault of Kunco in December 2011.

Clemons remains in Washington County jail without bond.

Jury selection is slated to continue for the rest of the week.

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