Finally Going to Trial

Some of you will remember when I wrote about the shooting at the Tacoma Mall.  I was actually involved in the traffic jam around the mall area trying to get home from church that Sunday morning back in November 2005.

Well, the alleged shooter is finally going to trial. Yesterday the prosecutors and defense attorney's began the process of seating a jury...16 people out of a pool of 116 potential jurors. There will be 12 main jurors and 4 alternates.  The actual trial is scheduled to begin August 27th and could last for at least a month.  Dominick Maldanado, now age 21 is charged with 15 crimes, including first-degree attempted murder, multiple counts of first-degree assault, and kidnapping.  He of course has pleaded not guilty and intends to present a mental health defense.   One thing good is that he's been jailed since his arrest, so hasn't been out running around the area, perhaps committing other crimes.

I've seen the man that Maldanado allegedly shot in the spine around town (he goes to the same doctor's clinic I go to) , as I remember he's paralyzed from the waist down and of course is confined to a wheel chair. I will say that each time I've seen this dear man, he always seems cheerful and has a smile on his face.  Having a daughter who's wheelchair bound (she had a stroke 3 months after her 40th birthday), I know how depressing that life can be

I'm sure this trial will be difficult for all his victims, after almost 2 years having to relive the terror filled day, they innocently went to the mall to do some shopping.

I knew this trial was coming up...It's been a year & a half since I've been summoned for jury duty...so I'm glad I didn't get the notice for this one.  But, unfortunately there are some more serious cases coming and I'm due for that special notice to arrive in my mail box anytime.

Ok, back to packing.........Linda