Legal analysts weigh in as jury selection begins in Vickers’ trial

Bret Vetter News10NBC

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Jury selection in the Kelvin Vickers murder trial begins on Monday.

Vickers is accused of fatally shooting Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz and the attempted murder of Officer Sino Seng in July of last year. RPD says Vickers came to Rochester to kill rival marijuana dealers.

Vickers is charged with:

  • Aggravated murder for killing Officer Mazurkiewicz. For the jury to find him guilty on that charge, prosecutors will have to prove Vickers killed someone he knew was an officer.
  • Attempted aggravated murder, second degree attempted murder, and assault for shooting Officer Seng.
  • Assault for shooting a 15-year-old girl.
  • Two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

Given the high-profile nature of the case, Defense attorney and former Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Rich said all sides will take their time during the selection process.

“I believe for most cases of this type is you start to have to do almost one by one, bring the jurors back into a private room. Prosecution, defense, judge, and they’ll talk about what it is they know,” Rich said.

Ultimately, Rich said that the judge will decide who is paneled on the jury.

“Where it really gets down to the meat and potatoes of this is when she starts to ask about whether or not anybody has heard anything about anything involving this case, and you’d be hard pressed to find anybody who has not,” Rich said.

Vickers faces multiple charges for an alleged three-day crime spree that includes fatally shooting officer Mazurkiewicz.

In total, the selection process is expected to take three to four days. The trial itself is expected to last four to five weeks.

RIT professor and former Monroe County District Attorney Mike Green said the judge will do everything to make sure each juror is able to be fair and impartial.

“The really important thing is to get people to agree ya know that whatever I’ve heard, whatever I think I know, I will set aside and just base my decision on what happens,” Green said.

While it may take longer, Green said that he’s certain both sides will be ready to go on Monday.

“I certainly anticipate that both sides will be very well prepared to deal with this issue and you know it may take a little bit more time because of publicity,” Green said.

The Rochester Police Locust Club, the union that represents RPD officers, released the following statement:

“As the trial of Kelvin Vickers begins, the Rochester Police Locust Club requests privacy and respect for the Mazurkiewicz and Seng families during this process. Vickers is accused of fatally shooting Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz and the attempted murder of Officer Sino Seng last year. The union and families will not have further comment until the trial has concluded.”

More about the trial:

Remembering Officer Mazurkiewicz: