THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 6, 1996 TAG: 9602060310
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: DEDHAM, MASS. LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
State troopers, bomb squad technicians and metal detectors greeted potential jurors Monday as John C. Salvi III went on trial for the fatal shooting of two receptionists at abortion clinics.
Salvi, 23, entered the courthouse wearing leg irons, handcuffs and, as usual, a blue blazer a bit small for him. He showed no emotion in the courtroom and did not acknowledge his father or crying mother, who reached out her hand and softly called her only child's name.
Salvi used previous court appearances to espouse bizarre views, such as his theory of a conspiracy against Catholics. But he has not addressed the abortion issue since his arrest, and the issue was evident only on signs carried by a couple of protesters outside.
Salvi's attorney asked that his client be allowed to read a statement, but the request was denied. The statement was entered as evidence but not made public.
Salvi is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of assault with intent to murder. His attorneys do not dispute his involvement in the shootings and plan an insanity defense. Salvi has said he wants the death penalty if convicted, but Massachusetts does not have capital punishment and he faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment without parole.
The potential jurors spent most of the day filling out questionnaires. Then Superior Court Judge Barbara Dortch-Okara began interviewing them in her chambers to get their views on abortion, mental illness and insanity.
``This will be a very lengthy process for you,'' Dortch-Okara told a standing-room-only courtroom of 142 possible jurors. Jury selection is expected to go on for several days, and the trial could last six weeks, court officials have said.
The Superior Court was saturated with security personnel. But only two protesters appeared, with signs saying ``Execute Murderers Abortionists & Accessories'' and ``Salvi Saved Lives.''
At least a dozen state and local police cars lined the block, including bomb disposal vehicles. Two troopers were posted on each sidewalk outside the gold-domed courthouse, and a court officer said they were equipped with the names and license plate numbers of activists involved in the abortion debate.
Potential jurors had to show their notifications to a half-dozen police officers in the courthouse lobby, put their belongings through an X-ray machine and walk through a metal detector. Then they were checked with a hand-held detector.
``I find the security to be fantastic,'' said defense attorney J.W. Carney Jr.
Salvi is accused of walking into the clinics in Brookline, outside Boston, asking if he was in the right place, and then pulling a rifle from a duffel bag and opening fire. Killed were receptionists Shannon Lowney and Lee Ann Nichols, who was shot nine times while begging for her life.
Salvi was arrested in Norfolk, Va., the next day, after police said they caught him shooting through the windows of an abortion clinic. MEMO: Larry Bonko previews the ``Frontline'' show on John Salvi/ E1
ILLUSTRATION: Court officers remove handcuffs from 23-year-old John C. Salvi
III, center, while his attorney, J.W. Carney, right, looks on during
the first day of Salvi's trial in Dedham, Mass., Monday. Jury
selection is expected to go on for several days, and the trial could
last six weeks, court officials have said.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE SALVI CASE
THE SUSPECT: John Salvi III, 23, an apprentice hairdresser who
had been living in Salisbury, N.H.
WHAT HAPPENED: On Dec. 30, 1994, Salvi allegedly opened fire with
a semiautomatic rifle at two Boston, Mass. area clinics. Prosecutors
say he killed receptionist Shannon Lowney and injured three others
at one clinic before allegedly killing receptionist Lee Ann Nichols
and wounding two others at a second clinic.
THE NORFOLK CONNECTION: On Dec. 31, 1994, Salvi was arrested in
Norfolk after allegedly firing into the Hillcrest Clinic. No one was
injured. He was initially charged with shooting into an occupied
building, but that charge was set aside so Salvi could be returned
to Massachusetts to stand trial. The Norfolk charges can be refiled
later.
DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION: Defense attorneys contend Salvi is
insane. Prosecutors point to a history of activism in the
antiabortion movement and believe Salvi's political views led him to
kill.
THE CHARGES: Two counts of first-degree murder and five counts of
assault with intent to murder.
KEYWORDS: ABORTION CLINIC SHOOTINGS MURDER TRIAL by CNB