Opening statements will begin on Monday in former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial after the final jurors were selected on Friday.
According to Judge Juan Merchan, lawyers will present opening statements on Monday morning before prosecutors start laying out their case against Trump which is based on the accusation that he falsified business records to cover up an hush money payment he paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and has consistently said the stories against him are false.
“This case is going to trial Monday morning,” Merchan said.
Friday was a long day in court where the final five alternate jurors were picked to complete a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates who will decide whether or not Trump is guilty of covering up the payment to Daniels as charged.
One of the last five alternate jurors is a woman from the Upper East Side who works for a construction company as a project manager. The woman, during screening in court, said she will “do whatever my kids want me to do in my spare time.”
Another alternate selected is a handyman who offered his services in the courtroom should the microphone begin acting up amid the trial.
While the jury selection went on, the outside of the New York courthouse saw unrest, as a man, identified as Max Azzarello of St. Augustine, Florida, set himself on fire. Witnesses said that Azzarello doused himself with a liquid substance and lit himself up after he pulled pamphlets out of a backpack he was carrying and threw them in the air.
The man burnt for a while, according to a witness who told reporters, “It was pretty horrifying.”
According to officials, Azzarello survived the fire and was in a critical state at a hospital.
