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Jury selected in Mejia capital murder trial

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  • Originally published November 16, 2009 at 6:09 p.m., updated November 16, 2009 at 11:05 p.m.

Lawyers on Monday selected the 12-person jury for the trial of a man accused of murdering a 17-year-old boy in 2007.

Opening arguments begin Tuesday at 9 a.m. in District Judge Robert Cheshire's courtroom, District Clerk Cathy Stuart said.

Sebastian Willie Mejia is charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Derrick Quintanilla, who was found dead in his girlfriend's home on Oct. 30, 2007.

Mejia is accused of shooting Quintanilla in the head, acting as a member of the Texas Syndicate prison gang, according to his indictment.

Mejia has a lengthy criminal history, according to court records.

Prosecutors are not asking for the death penalty, but if he is found guilty of capital murder, he would be sentenced to life in prison without parole.


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Comments

  • LeslieWilber LeslieWilber Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    Hi furhur,
    We'll have coverage of the trial's first day in Wednesday's paper, and I plan on covering it through the week. Of course, that could change if I'm reassigned to another breaking news story.
    I have to work with my editors to choose what I'll cover and how. That's especially true when it comes to court cases, which can keep a reporter completely tied up for a week or more. Jury selection is certainly an important part of a trial, but often it's not possible to attend those proceedings.
    Hope this answers your questions.
    Thanks,
    Leslie Wilber

    November 17, 2009 at 5:41 p.m.
  • furthur furthur Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    I asked this in a related earlier article, so I'll try again here. Does the Advocate have a reporter assigned to be in the courtroom to cover this murder trial? That is one of the things I like about The Chronicle and the Austin and San Antonio papers. They have reporters there with a steno pad taking notes and observing all of the participants involved, which to me seems to make for more a more accurate assessment of the proceedings. A more interesting story seems to come from daily, on the scene reports, as opposed to just printing the press release prepared by the court on the trial's progress. I'd rather hear what really happened in the words of a veteran reporter, than read a reprinted account of what the officials decide we should hear.

    November 17, 2009 at 7:18 a.m.
  • cuerogobblersrock cuerogobblersrock Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    Ok they are not looking at death penalty..Well why not? I am sure this 17 year old boy was looking to die either...

    November 16, 2009 at 11:21 p.m.