Jury Selection Halted In Kevorkian Trial

The Michigan Supreme Court halted jury selection in Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s trial Tuesday and ordered the state appeals court to consider to what extent prosecutors must prove intent in the case.

In a decision released late Tuesday from Lansing, the Supreme Court ordered the Court of Appeals to rule on the appropriateness of Oakland County Circuit Judge David Breck’s preliminary jury instructions.

Breck ruled that in this case, based on Michigan common law, the state must prove only that Kevorkian knew two women sought to commit suicide and that he gave them the means.

Kevorkian’s attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, says the state should have to prove a more specific intent: that Kevorkian also knew the women intended to use the poison to commit suicide.