Carpenter murder trial underway

UPDATE — 6:04 p.m.

Jacques Carpenter is charged with open murder in connection with the June 2012 shooting death of David Meyer, Jr. The shooting took place at a home on North Second Street in Ishpeming where both men lived.

Jury selection got underway in Marquette at 9:30 this morning and was still in progress after 4 p.m. More than 20 potential jurors were dismissed from the jury pool, mostly because they knew one or more of the potential witnesses.

Carpenter’s attorney, Karl Numinen, is likely to argue self-defense based on Michigan’s 2006 ‘stand-your-ground’ law. It’s the same type of argument that resulted in an acquittal in Florida for George Zimmerman for shooting and killing Trayvon Martin.

Carpenter faces a life sentence if he’s convicted. He’s being held in the Marquette County Jail without bond.

The trial is expected to continue through the duration of this week, and possibly into Monday or even Tuesday of next week, before the jury begins deliberating.

Jury selection in the murder trial of an Ishpeming man started this morning in Marquette.

The Jack Carpenter case is being heard in Marquette County Circuit Court.

Carpenter is charged with open murder, in the June 2012 fatal shooting of 29-year-old David Meyer, Jr. of Ishpeming at 409 North Second Street, where both men lived.

Carpenter faces a life sentence if he’s convicted. He has been held in the Marquette County Jail without bond since June of 2012.

ABC 10’s Mike Hoey is in the courtroom and will have updates on jury selection, opening arguments and the court proceedings during the trial.