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NEW YORK – Jury selected for US trial of Mexican drug lord known as "El Chapo". Seven women and five men were selected Wednesday as jurors in the case against Joaquin Guzman. The trial is scheduled to open on November 13 with opening statements in federal court in Brooklyn.
Guzman, who twice escaped Mexican jails, pleaded not guilty to 17 charges, including drug smuggling, money laundering and conspiracy to murder. Guzman allegedly ran the Sinaloa cartel for decades, becoming the largest drug trafficking organization in the world. US prosecutors say that he has overseen hundreds of murders, kidnappings, and other acts of violence.
The Mexican lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman appears in a court skit in Brooklyn, New York.
Courtesy of Jane Rosenberg
His notoriety has given rise to security measures, including the maintenance of the anonymity of jurors beyond the duration of the trial. Federal agents and K-9 officers were stationed in front of the courthouse and in the hallway leading to the courtroom where jury selection began on Monday, according to CBS News producer Cassandra Gauthier. Juries are supposed to be escorted every day to the courthouse by the US Marshals, Nikki Battiste, journalist at CBS News.
Guzman was also kept in solitary confinement and prevented from receiving a visit from his wife. This week, a defense lawyer asked the judge to allow Guzman's wife to kiss him in court before the opening statements. The judge has not ruled on this.
One of the jurors, a Hispanic woman, said Wednesday in tears to US District Judge Brian Cogan that she did not want to serve, Gauthier reports.
The jury of 12 people is composed of seven women and five men. Six members of the jury are appointed as alternates. Three of the jury members are immigrants of European, African and South Asian descent. Several others speak fluent Spanish, and a number of them had already made a career in the field of law enforcement or had family in law enforcement , according to Gauthier.
One of the immigrant jurors replied "I have no idea" when asked if she knew Guzman, Gauthier reported. Others had a general knowledge of the case and some had seen the drama series Netflix telling the story of Guzman.
The seized drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is escorted by soldiers into the hangar belonging to the Attorney General's office in Mexico City, Mexico, on January 8, 2016.
Reuters / Henry Romero
Guzman's lawyer, Eduardo Balarezo, said he was "satisfied" with the selections of the jurors.
"We hope they will do their homework," said Balarezo.
Cogan spoke to the newly appointed jurors and warned them to avoid any media coverage and not to discuss the case.
Jurors should be officially sworn in before opening statements on Tuesday.
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