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After four days, jury selected in Michael Bever's murder trial

Posted at 5:48 PM, Apr 19, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-20 05:48:24-04

TULSA, Okla. -- After four days of questioning, a jury has been selected in the Michael Bever trial.

Bever is accused of killing his parents and three siblings in 2015.

The attorneys said there were tears and prayers throughout the pool as they explained the details of this case. Ultimately, they chose 11 women and three men who will serve as jurors and alternates in this case.

The defendant is accused of stabbing and killing his mother and father as well as siblings aged five, ten, and 12 in 2015. His older brother Robert already pleaded guilty and is serving five life sentences in prison.

Attorneys warned potential jurors on Thursday saying "this case is difficult and gruesome evidence will be presented." After opening statements on Friday one of Bever's sisters will testify, and the district attorney tells us she also suffered serious injuries.

"That young lady, in many respects she is the reason that her sister is alive. So it's going to be a hard day for her," Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said.

Jurors were also asked if they would be able to consider life with parole if Bever is found guilty. This is an option since the defendant was a juvenile when his family was killed.

The defense attorney told jurors Bever might not testify in this case, and he wanted to make sure jurors will not hold this against his client as well.

The district attorney repeated this will be a tough case for juror to go home with, largely due to emotional testimony and graphic images from the crime scene. The trial is expected to extend well into next week.

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