WOBURN, Massachusetts – It’s still morning on day three of jury selection and nine jurors were just seated: five women and four men. It’s back to individual questioning of jurors before the remaining seven can be seated. The prosecution exercised five of its 16 peremptory challenges; the defense exercised seven. In the past two days, more than 100 potential jurors were excused for various reasons. By the close of business yesterday, twenty-four had made it to this morning’s round but one of them was excused before court today because the juror knows a court officer on the case. So, of the 23, nine are jurors.

The last time I recall a Briton was on trial for murder in Middlesex County was in 1997 when Louise Woodward was tried for the murder of infant Matthew Eappen. Woodward, the nanny, was convicted of second degree murder. The trial judge, Hiller Zobel, reduced it to manslaughter and gave her time served. I understand Woodward is a dance instructor today. One man was excused from Entwistle’s jury pool yesterday after he announced that he was a witness in Woodward’s case.

Entwistle’s trial is not taking place in the same Cambridge courthouse as Woodward’s. That courthouse is closed for the time being — and it could be a long time — for asbestos removal. The Middlesex Superior Court is now located in Woburn, Mass. This is the town that was featured in the book, A Civil Action, by Jonathan Harr and the movie, starring John Travolta and Robert Duvall. The book and movie are about a true story: a protracted personal injury lawsuit by residents of Woburn who claimed their water was contaminated by toxins that caused the deaths of many Woburn children. I know it was a long time ago but I’m erring on the safe side–it’s bottled water for me.

– Beth Karas, In Session correspondent