**UPDATE 3/6: Opening arguments set to begin Thursday as jury seated for involuntary manslaughter trial of Oxford HS shooter's father
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PONTIAC (WWJ) — Jury selection is scheduled to continue Wednesday in the involuntary manslaughter trial for James Crumbley, father of the convicted Oxford High School shooter.
The process began Tuesday in Oakland County Circuit Court, where 300 prospective jurors gathered to fill out questionnaires and answer questions from prosecutors and defense attorneys.
No jurors were seated during the first day of Crumbley's trial, but selection will resume Wednesday at 9 a.m., with both legal teams asking more questions on Wednesday.
WWJ Legal Analyst Charlie Langton reports Judge Cheryl Matthews is hoping to have a jury seated by the end of the day Wednesday and have opening statements begin on Thursday.
"Based on the questions by both the prosecutor and defense attorney, we did get a little glimpse into the theories of each," Langton said. "Prosecutor Karen McDonald questioned jurors about responsible gun ownership, keeping guns locked up and away from teens. But for the defense, safe training can mean different things to different people."
Other topics prosecutors and attorneys asked potential jurors about included mental illness and relationships between children and their parents.
"When asked if any juror believed that they were the perfect parent, no hands were raised — obviously a defense that James may not be the best parent, but he's certainly not a manslaughterer," Langton said.
Crumbley's trial comes a few weeks after his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with their son's mass shooting that claimed the lives of four Oxford High School students on Nov. 30, 2021. She is set to be sentenced next month.
The parents are the first in U.S. history to be criminally charged in connection with a school shooting carried out by their child. Their child, Ethan, was sentenced late last year to life in prison without the possibility of parole, a sentence that his legal team plans to appeal.
