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NEW YORK (Reuters) – The trial of Mexican drug dealer Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, accused of drug trafficking and conspiracy, which is expected to last four months, began Monday with the selection of jurors in federal court in Brooklyn.
District Judge Brian Cogan, prosecutors and defense counsel have so far interviewed 40 potential jurors. The jurors were summoned to the courtroom and wore stickers identifying them by number, their names concealed to protect their safety.
Six selected substitute judges will be escorted to the courthouse by armed American marshals.
Guzman, 61, was looking in the audience hall dressed in a navy blue suit and a white open-neck shirt.
Guzman previously headed the Sinaloa cartel. , which has become one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world, named after its base in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.
His nickname, which refers to his height of 1.67 meters, is often translated as "Shorty" in English
Guzman was extradited from Mexico to the United States on January 19, 2017, after his death. to be twice escaped from Mexican jails before being captured again.
US Prosecutors claim that, as the Sinaloa cartel leader, Guzman has led the international trafficking of several tons of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine. . If he is found guilty, he risks life imprisonment.
JURY SELECTION
Up to now, only a potential juror has expressed fears about security. She was fired Monday afternoon after declaring that she "read Guzman's family after the jurors and their families".
Another woman was fired after stating that the lawsuit might make her think of images of Netflix's drama "Narcos", on Colombia's drug cartels.
Earlier in the day, a woman was fired after expressing strong anti-drug views and a man was released after confessing acquaintance with the case on Wikipedia.
Others had been excused for the following reasons: links with law enforcement, scheduling conflicts and concerns about loss of income
Among those still in the running, let's quote a self-styled imitator of the late pop star Michael Jackson. Prosecutors asked to be excused because his work could make it easily identifiable.
Another potential juror testified that he was born in Medellin, Colombia, where he had been a victim of drug-related violence as a child.
A recurring theme. Legalization of marijuana: Several jurors said support, but were questioned about the fact that they could be impartial when charging the charges against marijuana.
(Report by Brendan Pierson in New York, edited by Susan Thomas and Alistair Bell)
was not edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by automatic feeding.
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