CROWN POINT | Jury selection in the Engelica Castillo trial picked up speed late Monday afternoon but stalled Tuesday.
Ten jurors had been selected by late afternoon Monday, and the remaining two were selected about 2 p.m. Tuesday, but that was followed by the dismissal of six potential alternates.
Jury selection is set for a fourth round beginning about 8:30 a.m. today with 36 potential alternates.
Castillo, who turns 20 Friday, is on trial for the alleged murder of her young cousin, Jada Justice, of Portage.
Authorities launched a nationwide search for the 2-year-old last summer after Castillo reported the child had been abducted. Jada's burnt body was found nine days later encased in concrete in a LaPorte County swamp.
The child had been in the care of Castillo and her then-boyfriend, Timothy Tkachik, 25, both of Hobart.
Each was charged with murder, two counts of neglect of a dependent, battery and false informing after the child's body was found.
Tkachik last month pleaded guilty to the two counts of neglect of a dependent, both Class A felonies. According to the plea bargain, when sentenced next month Tkachik faces a sentence of between 20 and 50 years for each count to be served concurrently.
In exchange, Tkachik is expected to testify against Castillo, one of several major issues attorneys have presented for consideration to 100 potential jurors.
Jury candidates repeatedly were asked whether they could consider Tkachik's testimony credible, how they would view any lack of testimony by Castillo and whether they understood burden of proof is solely on the state.
Compounding the issues for potential jurors was that it will be up to the jury whether Castillo will be sentenced to life without parole if convicted on the charge of murder.
A conviction of murder does not necessarily equate to a sentence of life without parole, authorities instructed the potential jurors. Jurors also may choose to sentence Castillo to a specific number of years in prison. Options also include acquittal on the murder charge and conviction on the lesser charges, they were told.
Some potential jurors said they could judge Castillo's guilt or innocence, but the prospect of also sentencing her troubled others.
Yet others admitted a strong inclination toward finding Castillo guilty regardless of evidence.
