MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Billy Ray Turner, accused of murdering Memphis Grizzlies player Lorenzen Wright in 2010, is finally set to stand trial.
Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman told ABC24 that jury selection was underway Monday morning, with 80 prospective jurors being interviewed.
"Memphis has waited 12 years for this ... and we're finally here," Hagerman said. "We have our work cut out for us this week."
Hagerman said he was hopeful a jury will be selected Monday, and confident one will be selected within two days.
The judge spoke with the prospective jurors 21 at a time, ultimately selecting eight women and seven men.
Turner was in court during the jury selection process.
Now that a jury has been selected, the trial proceedings and opening statements will begin Tuesday.
Hagerman said he expects the trial to last 10 days and that the trial will also take place on weekends.
Turner's trial was delayed due to COVID-19 concerns in 2020 and again in 2021.
Hagerman said he's confident the court will be able to find a fair and impartial jury, despite the widespread news coverage of the case.
Wright was found murdered in southeast Memphis in July 2010. His ex-wife, Sherra Wright, pled guilty to the facilitation of murder in 2019, and is currently serving a 38-year prison sentence.
It took seven years for Wright and Turner to be indicted.
Hagerman also said he expects Wright's cousin Jimmy Martin to take the witness stand in Turner's trial.
In court, it was revealed in 2012 Martin was given immunity when he talked to police and gave them information about the murder and the location of the gun. Sherra Wright’s attorney questioned Martin’s involvement.
“I think there is more evidence that Jimmie Martin is the murderer than there is Sherra,” said Juni Ganguli, Wright’s lawyer, in 2019.
Martin is not charged but is currently in jail for an unrelated second-degree murder charge.