Prosecutors and defense attorneys for Matt Baker had a relatively easy time Tuesday selecting a jury for the former minister’s murder trial, despite their concerns that widespread publicity about the case would taint the process.

Judge Ralph Strother of Waco’s 19th State District Court has set opening statements from attorneys to begin at 9:30 a.m. today, followed by the first prosecution witness.

After the attorneys selected a jury of eight women and four men and two alternate jurors, prosecutor Susan Shafer read the indictment charging Baker, 38, in the April 7, 2006, drugging and suffocation death of his 31-year-old wife, Kari.

Baker, who has been free on bail and living in Kerrville with his two daughters, stood before the jury and pleaded not guilty in a loud, clear voice.

Few among the panel of 70 prospective jurors said that they had anything more than passing knowledge of the case, and only a handful said they had followed it regularly in newspaper or TV accounts. At least five among those who said they knew nothing about the case ended up on the jury.

Included on the panel are:

* A 38-year-old female nurse from China Spring.

* A 49-year-old female library director from Crawford.

* A 63-year-old male L-3 employee from Waco.

* A 35-year-old female school secretary from Waco.

* A 60-year-old male retiree from Waco.

* A 54-year-old female hospital switchboard dispatcher from Waco.

* A 33-year-old male home builder from China Spring.

* A 48-year-old female financial firm employee from McGregor.

* A 45-year-old female school custodian from Waco.

* A 39-year-old female hospital dialysis technician from Waco.

* A 34-year-old female registered nurse from Waco.

* A 51-year-old male state highway department employee from China Spring.

The two alternates are a 51-year-old male restoration contractor from China Spring and a 65-year-old female M&M Mars retiree from Waco.

Baker, a former youth chaplain, has said that his wife was despondent over the anniversary of the death of one of their daughters. He has said that his wife had been taking pills to help her sleep and told authorities that she combined pills with alcohol on the night she died, leaving behind a typed, unsigned note to apologize.

Authorities have charged Baker with drugging her and then suffocating her with a pillow or other object after she passed out. They allege he was having an affair with Vanessa Bulls, the daughter of the choir director at Crossroads Baptist Church in Lorena, where Baker was pastor.

During his questioning of potential jurors, Baker’s attorney, Guy James Gray, a prosecutor for 25 years, asked if anyone was close to someone who attempted or committed suicide. He said if the matter was too delicate to talk about in front of a roomful of strangers, they could wait until a recess and speak with the judge and the attorneys in private.

One man who later was selected for the jury raised his hand and said his mother-in-law had committed suicide. Gray asked if that would affect him if he were picked for the jury.

“Naw, I didn’t like her,” the man said matter-of-factly, causing the rest of the panel, the lawyers and the judge to break into laughter.

Another potential juror who asked to speak in private was more serious about his experiences. He said his wife twice has tried to commit suicide but said it would not affect his jury service. He was not selected for the jury.

Before prosecutor Crawford Long and Gray took turns questioning the panel, Strother spent a good deal of time talking to prospective jurors about the media coverage in the case and the importance of basing their opinions solely on courtroom evidence.

He also talked about a defendant’s presumption of innocence and the wide range of punishments available in a murder case.

Long questioned the group about their attitudes toward ministers, asking if preachers charged with crimes should be held to a higher standard than other defendants or should be entitled to special privileges.

“Does anyone here feel that a preacher of the word of God could not ever commit a crime like murder?” Long asked.

No one raised a hand.

twitherspoon@wacotrib.com

757-5737

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