GATE CITY -- A jury of nine men and four women was selected Tuesday afternoon to hear the murder trial of a Bristol, Tenn. man who allegedly helped carry out the Christmas 2011 shooting death of a Nickelsville resident.
Opening statements in the first-degree murder trial of Charlie Joe Ramey, 61, of Bristol, Tenn. are set to begin this morning in Scott County Circuit Court as a result of the jury’s selection.
The trial, which is being presided over by 30th Circuit Judge John Kilgore, is expected to last through Friday.
Ramey — who has pleaded not guilty to the charge against him — is one of two men accused of robbing and killing Gregory Jerome Hale on Christmas Eve 2011 at his home in Nickelsville.
Ramey is being represented by Jonesville attorney Joe Rasnic. If convicted, Ramey could face life in prison.
The 12 jurors and one alternate were chosen from a pool of 66 potential members over the course of nearly five hours of questioning Tuesday.
Following this morning’s arguments, members of the jury will likely be taken to the alleged murder scene at Hale’s residence on Addington Frame Road before returning to the courthouse later in the day.
The “jury view”, as it is called, was granted in late February after a motion was filed by the Scott County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
When contacted Tuesday, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office declined to comment on Ramey’s case due to the trial being underway.
Ramey’s co-defendant and the alleged gunman in the case — Daniel Eugene Norris, 31, of Bristol, Tenn. — is also scheduled to stand trial later this year on a charge of capital murder in connection with Hale’s death.
Norris’ trial is set to begin Aug. 27. He could face the death penalty if found guilty.
Authorities have said previously that Norris is facing capital murder because they believe he actually “pulled the trigger” on the firearm that killed Hale.
At a preliminary hearing for Ramey in July 2012, authorities presented evidence that Ramey accompanied Norris to Hale’s residence on the night of the murder with the intentions of robbing him for drugs and money. Hale was allegedly shot during the course of the robbery.
The Scott County Medical Examiner’s Office testified that Hale died of gunshot wounds from a small-caliber handgun that he received to the back and side of his head from close range.