NEW YORK – Jury selection starts Monday in the New York trial of a New Jersey man and a former Manhattan school librarian charged with conspiring to rape, torture and murder women and children.
The trial comes a year after a related case resulted in the conviction of a New York City police officer in a cannibalism plot to torture, kill and eat women.
About 90 prospective jurors Monday will be asked to answer nine written questions to see if they can remain objective and fair as ghastly evidence is introduced in the case. Defense lawyers maintain that online correspondence between the defendants will prove they were merely engaging in sexual fantasy chats that were never meant to harm anyone.
Both men have been held without bail since their arrests.
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