Jury Selection Continues For Trial Of "Facebook Killer"
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Opening statements could get underway this week in the trial of the so-called Facebook killer.
On August 8th, Derek Medina shot and killed his 27-year old wife, Jennifer Alfonso, in their South Miami home while Alfonso's daughter was upstairs, according to police. He then posted a photograph of her dead body on Facebook, with a caption that read, in part: "I'm going to prison or death sentence for killing my wife."
Jury selection began last week. On Monday, Medina returned to court sporting a new haircut.
During questioning by the police after the shooting, Medina claimed the two were arguing when Alfonso pulled out a knife. He said he was able to disarm her and placed the knife back in the kitchen drawer. And that's when he claims she attacked him again.
Medina's attorneys plan to argue self-defense and have said they plan to prove he suffered from "battered husband syndrome."
State prosecutors raised concerns about dragging Alfonso's name through the mud in the course of the trial, including allegations that she was a devil-worshipper and had disturbing spiritual beliefs.
Judge Yvonne Colodny has told defense attorneys they could only bring it up if they could prove it was relevant to the moment that led up to the shooting.