St. George, USA - For more on the trial of Warren Jeffs, including newly filed court documents, photo galleries, multimedia presentations and past articles, visit http://www.sltrib.com/polygamy
Posted: 12:45 PM- ST. GEORGE -- Attorneys for Warren S. Jeffs have 70 potential witnesses prepared to testify in defense of the polygamous sect leader.
The defense witness list includes the former husband, the mother and other relatives of Jane Doe, the state's key witness in two rape as an accomplice charges against Jeffs.
The charges stem from a spiritual marriage Jeffs conducted in 2001 between Jane Doe, then 14, and her then 19-year-old cousin. She testified in an earlier hearing that she objected numerous times to the union and to having marital relations with her husband.
Jeffs, according to Jane Doe, said her heavenly salvation depended on her doing as told. Jane Doe's former husband has not been charged with any crime.
The state has listed 18 potential witnesses, including Jane Doe, two sisters, a brother and her father.
Much of the defense list is made up of members of Jeffs' sect, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The list reflects the close-knit nature of the community.
There are 22 Barlows and 13 Jessops, common names in the sect's traditional base in Hildale and Colorado City, Ariz.
Also listed: Bruce Griffen, an attorney who represented eight FLDS men who were charged with sex crimes in Arizona; Kimball Barlow, an administrator in the FLDS private school system; and Ezra Nielsen, who worked for the print shop that reproduced church sermons and lessons in newsletters, books and pamphlets.
Prosecutors may call Maureen Crump and Ron Gordon of the state's Safe Passages program, which assists women and children who want to leave polygamous communities.
Also on the state's list: Carolyn Jessop, a former plural wife who left the FLDS community in 2003; Jane Doe's father and a brother; a Nevada trooper involved in Jeffs capture and arrest outside Las Vegas and other law enforcement.
The witness lists were distributed to 300 potential jurors Friday as they reported to the Dixie Center to answer questionnaires about their familiarity with and opinions on the case. Eight jurors and at least two alternates will be selected.
Clerk Carolyn Smitherman said jurors were shown the video "Selected to Serve," which is screened for all prospective jurors in Utah. The pool was sworn in around 9:15 a.m. and, after filling out the questionnaire, the first prospective jurors began trickling out of the Dixie Center around 9:20 a.m.
Questions included their knowledge of the FLDS faith and opinions about its followers. Candidates were also asked if they had seen television shows or read news reports about the 51-year-old Jeffs and how accurate they felt those reports were.
They also were asked whether they could set aside their feelings about polygamy or about any impressions they have about the so-called "Lost Boys" - teens who have left the FLDS community.
Smitherman said about 40 candidates were dismissed due to medical issues or unchangeable vacation plans. She estimated another 30 or so jurors did not show up Friday.
The court will bring an initial group of 50 potential jurors to the 5th District Court on Monday morning, where they were be interviewed individually by the judge and attorneys in the case.