DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Delays in selecting a jury have pushed the start of the first-degree murder trial of Barry Davis back until this morning.
Prosecuting attorney Bobby Elmore had surmised the trial would be ready to go by mid-day Tuesday, but a second pool of potential jurors had to be brought in Wednesday when he and the Davis defense team couldn’t agree on the 14 candidates needed to fill the jury box.
Walton County Circuit Court Judge Kelvin Wells told the second group of potential jurors that he expected the Davis trial to go “three to four weeks,” and warned them that it could include a death penalty phase.
Davis is charged in a 15-count indictment with killing John Hughes of Seagrove Beach and Heidi Rhodes of Panama City Beach on May 7, 2012.
Authorities say Davis was invited in to Hughes’ home on Arbor Lane for dinner when he attacked the pair, incapacitated them and placed their heads in a bathtub full of water.
The other charges against him are theft-related. It is alleged he stole most of Hughes’ household goods and cashed checks for thousands of dollars.
If the jury finds Davis guilty, it will be asked to listen to more testimony as Elmore and Davis’ attorneys argue for and against the death sentence.
The 14 jurors selected Wednesday will include two alternates.