Koepp jurors may come from Racine County
Photo
James C. Koepp during his Rock County Court House appearance at a preliminary hearing in the triple homicide.
JANESVILLE — Jurors in the Janesville triple homicide trial will likely be selected from Racine County, officials said Monday.
Attorneys, Judge Alan Bates and Rock County Clerk of Courts Eldred Mielke met in Rock County Court for a pretrial conference in the case against James Koepp, 50.
Koepp faces three charges of first-degree intentional homicide in the January 2007 slayings of Danyetta Lentz and her teenage children, Nicole and Scott. His two-week trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 25.
Bates, Mielke and attorneys on both sides decided 16 jurors, including four alternates, could be selected from a pool of 100 Racine County residents. They said the area's demographics are similar to Rock County.
Koepp in June was granted a change of venue because the judge ruled that media exposure made it difficult for Koepp to get a fair trial from local jurors.
Koepp's trial still will be in Rock County. Jurors will be bussed to Rock County and given a hotel room and meals during the trial. The jury will be sequestered.
The judge, his staff and attorneys will travel to Racine or another outside county to select the jury.
In court Monday, attorneys on both sides also discussed reports written by a defense expert regarding DNA evidence.
Koepp's attorney, Walter Isaacson, has an expert who needs to file more reports related to the examination of DNA.
District Attorney David O'Leary and Deputy District Attorney Perry Folts said they need the reports to have their expert review them and prepare for trial.
In response, Isaacson said the reports should be ready in the next week or two.
Attorneys also discussed the possibility of submitting written questions to ask potential jurors.
A hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 22, to discuss any final issues related to the defense's DNA expert or jury questions.
If convicted, Koepp faces three life sentences.
Nov 12, 2009 at 4:18 p.m.
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Its nice to know that it takes 2 years for a two week trial to take place........ can Rock county do anything right?
Nov 11, 2009 at 4:08 p.m.
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And this has all taken nearly 3 years to figure out? Didn't they have 90+% of the information within weeks of this occurring?
He deserves what is coming to him... intentionaly killing THREE people-- a Mom and her 2 children? He's a sick man!
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