Potential Hennis jurors quizzed closely on death penalty feelings

Three more jurors were seated Tuesday in the capital murder trial of Army Master Sgt. Timothy B. Hennis on Fort Bragg, bringing the total provisionally selected to 10.

Prosecution and defense lawyers interviewed eight potential jurors Monday and Tuesday. The judge, Col. Patrick Parrish, rejected five Tuesday at the request of the defense team: four on the grounds that they too strongly favored the death penalty and one because he would not consider a person's background when deciding whether to issue a death sentence.

The prosecution team wanted to reject another potential juror because she spoke strongly against the death penalty. Parrish overruled that request. He noted that the juror said she would listen to all the evidence for and against issuing a death sentence and consider it before deciding.

Hennis is accused of killing Kathryn Eastburn and two of her children in their home near Fort Bragg in 1985. If the jury unanimously convicts him, it will then choose the punishment, either execution or life in prison.

The court-martial must have at least 12 jurors to begin, although it's likely the trial will start with more than 12.

Military trials don't have alternate jurors; everyone on the panel takes part in the deliberations. If a juror has to bow out of the trial early, the remaining jurors continue without him. But in a capital case, the total number of jurors may not drop below 12 for the trial to proceed.

The panel members must all be at or above Hennis' rank, and at least one-third must be enlisted.

The lawyers and judge plan to begin interviewing six more potential jurors today. The case resumes at 9 a.m. in the new courthouse at Fort Bragg.