Melodie Phelps, News Editor
Monticello — A jury has been seated and the trial for Hope White, charged with murder
in connection with the 2008 death of Julie Hicks Burchett, is underway this
week in Wayne Circuit Court. The trial could continue through Thursday,
according to court officials.
Jury selection in the case began on Friday, April 16. Wayne Circuit
Clerk Richard Morrow said approximately 100 potential jurors were summoned
for the case. It took several hours to seat a jury in the case. By late
afternoon, 12 jurors and two alternates had been selected for the jury.
The trial began on Monday morning, as opening statements were made by
Commonwealth's Attorney Matthew Leveridge and defense attorney Jim Cox.
Several witnesses in the case were slated to testify on Monday afternoon as
this edition was being prepared to go to press. More details regarding the
trial and its outcome will be available in next week's edition of The
Outlook.
White was indicted in August 2009 for Burchett's murder. Burchett was
found dead in her car on July 19, 2008. Officers say she had been stabbed
multiple times and an indictment stated that the victim's throat had been
cut.