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Osterhout Free Library presents Under the Tuscan Sun Gala

<p>SCRANTON &#8212; Thirty-three of a targeted 70 prospective jurors have been pre-qualified in the capital murder case of Jessie Con-ui as the now weeks-old selection process labors on in federal court.</p><p>Con-ui, 40, is accused of killing prison guard and Nanticoke native Eric Williams, 34, in a 2013 ambush inside a federal prison in Wayne County. The same jury that determines the inmate&#8217;s guilt will be asked to decide whether he deserves to die.</p><p>Who will be tasked with that duty appeared far from certain as of Monday.</p><p>One hundred prospective jurors have been excused since the screening process began April 24, records show.</p><p>Attorneys will continue to interview 12 people per day until 70 are chosen. The parties will then whittle down the pool until 12 jurors and six alternates are selected.</p><p>Only once have more than four prospective jurors been pre-qualified in one day. Seven were pre-qualified Thursday.</p><p>Prosecutors say Con-ui, a first-degree murder conviction already to his name, killed again when he beat and stabbed Williams to death. Con-ui&#8217;s guilt has not been contested by his attorneys, who argue mistreatment by guards drove Con-ui to commit the crime.</p><p>A video that allegedly shows the killing will be shown to jurors during the trial&#8217;s guilt phase.</p><p>If convicted, the trial will move on to a penalty phase where the same jury will weigh aggravating and mitigating factors in considering a death sentence. If the jury can&#8217;t unanimously agree Con-ui should be put to death, an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole is imposed.</p><p><ins><a href="https://www.timesleader.com/uncategorized/653463/a-fallen-prison-guard-a-violent-inmate-what-to-know-as-the-con-ui-case-goes-to-trial" target="_blank">Read more about what to know from the Con-ui case here.</a></ins></p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_Con-ui-cmyk-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Con-ui </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_Con-ui-cmyk-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Con-ui </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

More than two weeks later, Con-ui jury selection nearing halfway point