Jury selection continues in murder trial

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Jury selection is underway in the trial of a man charged with murder in the death of a Wilmington police officer. Before jury selection began in Anthony Pierce’s murder trial, the judge set ground rules on how the trial would run.

The rules laid out by Judge Phyllis Gorham were standard to any other trial, but there was one that addressed how police officers in the courtroom could dress. The rule was directed towards officers that are not witnesses in the trial but for those sitting in to watch.

“Because of the nature of this trial, I believe that it is important that there be no officers who are not witnesses in this trial come into the courtroom as a spectator in uniform,” Gorham said.

We spoke with Pierce’s family and friends off camera. They said they agreed with the judge’s decision.

More than two dozen possible jurors were brought into the courtroom. Jury selection is expected to continue tomorrow.