The last of the first panel of 75 potential jurors was excused while one seat in the jury box remained vacant today in the trial of a Jersey City police officer facing up to 30 years in prison if convicted of killing a man in a hit-and-run in 2013.
JERSEY CITY -- Jury selection for the trial of a Jersey City police officer charged with killing a man in a 2013 hit-and-run is nearing completion, with one seat in the jury box still vacant.
At 11:50 a.m., eight women and five men were seated in the jury box for the trial of Michael Spolizino, 36, who is facing up to 30 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter, death by auto, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident in connection to the April 19, 2013 crash that killed Stephen Clifford.
At 1:30 p.m. today a second panel of jurors will fill the benches of the courtroom of Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale. Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael D'Andrea and defense attorney Jeffrey Garrigan will continue screening jurors at that time.
Jury selection began yesterday afternoon and among the questions jurors are being asked is whether they have any bias for or against police officers. It is possible a jury will be impaneled by the end of the day.
Spolizino has sat silently at the defense table through jury selection and has shown no emotion. Several of his family members are in court.
Spolizino, who was off-duty on the night of the accident, was driving on Kennedy Boulevard at 10 p.m. when he struck the 24-year-old Clifford, who was crossing the street at Fairmount Avenue, officials say. Clifford was pronounced dead at 10:35 p.m.
Spolizino told officers he did not see Clifford crossing the street and that Clifford "came out of nowhere," the accident report says.
Officials said there was no indication that Spolizino was under the influence of alcohol or any other substance and that a sobriety test was not administered. He is currently out on a $125,000 bail.
The officer was also cited with four motor vehicle violations, including speeding.
Spolizino was placed on modified duty as a result of his indictment, city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said. She said at the time that he was assigned to desk duty and would be "performing nonenforcement-related duties until this case is resolved."
The trial is being held in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City.