CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — A jury is expected to hear conflicting versions of what happened during a deadly white nationalist rally in Virginia last year as an Ohio man accused of killing a woman and injuring dozens of others goes on trial.
FILE – In this Aug. 19, 2017, file photo, a counter-protester holds a photo of Heather Heyer on Boston Common at a “Free Speech” rally organized by conservative activists, in Boston. Jury selection is set to begin in the trial of James Alex Fields Jr., accused of killing Heyer during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in 2017. His trial is scheduled to begin Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, in Charlottesville Circuit Court. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
James Alex Fields Jr., of Maumee, Ohio, is charged with first-degree murder and accused of driving his car into a crowd of counterprotesters during a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017. Civil rights activist Heather Heyer was killed.
Fields’ lawyer has indicated Fields may claim he was acting in self-defense. Prosecutors say he intentionally plowed his car into the group.
Opening statements are expected Thursday after a group of 28 prospective jurors is reduced to 16 jurors who will hear the case.
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