Jury selection began Monday in the case of a man accused of brutally beating a Troy couple to death. Katie Eastman has more on Jacob Heimroth's trial, from Rensselaer County Court.
TROY, N.Y. -- The man accused of killing Allen and Maria Lockrow was in Rensselaer County Court Monday morning.
Already, 11 people have been chosen to sit on Jacob Heimroth's jury, so it's looking like opening statements will begin tomorrow afternoon. The 35-year-old is accused of killing the Lockrows almost two years ago. Heimroth is facing first-degree murder charges for the second time -- his first indictment was thrown out because of a lack of evidence -- but this time, the prosecution has a key witness.
Daniel Reuter, Heimroth's childhood friend and alleged accomplice in the Lockrow murders, pled guilty to manslaughter under the agreement that he testify against Heimroth. During jury selection, Heimroth's attorney asked potential jurors if a witness who got a lesser sentence because they agreed to testify would affect the witness' credibility. He, of course, is referring to Router, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison. If Heimroth is convicted, he faces life behind bars.
Police say the two men plotted to kill the couple while high on cocaine on August 20, 2014. They say that, early that morning, Reuter killed Allen Lockrow with a baseball bat while Heimroth beat Maria with a two-by-four. Heimroth is also facing grand larceny charges; he's accused of stealing the Lockrows' car that was later found burned in a cornfield. Router also confessed to the carjacking.
The judge has asked the jurors chosen Monday to be back by 3 p.m. Tuesday; it's likely opening statements begin then. The trial is expected to last 2 weeks.