Crime & Safety

Hot Car Death Trial: More Than 500 Juror Summons Sent Out

Jury selection begins today in the trial Justin Ross Harris, accused of murdering his infant son.

MARIETTA, GA -- More than 500 juror summons have been sent out in preparation for the trial of Justin Ross Harris, the man accused of intentionally leaving his infant son in a hot car to die.

Jury selection begins today.

"We anticipate jury selection taking up to two weeks," said Cobb County DA Vic Reynolds. "The evidence portion of the trial may last 3 to 4 weeks."

Find out what's happening in Smyrna-Viningsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The latest development in the case is that Leanna Harris may testify against her ex-husband, Justin Ross Harris, according to the AJC.

Leanna Harris, who now goes by her maiden name of Leanna Taylor, officially divorced Harris last month.

Find out what's happening in Smyrna-Viningsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

In June 2014, Harris is accused of driving to work at a Home Depot corporate office, and leaving the couple's 22-month-old son, Cooper, buckled in his child seat in the car for the entire work day.

Harris pleaded not guilty to all of the original eight counts against him. He has been held without bond since June 2014.

A Cobb County judge also ruled last month that evidence of Harris' alleged martial infidelity and other information can be used in the trial.

Harris' attorneys were seeking to have the evidence excluded. The information includes sexually explicit texts that Harris allegedly shared with several girls; research on the effects of weather on the human body; and Harris and his family's financial situation, among other items.

Harris is also facing charges related to sexual explicit messages with underage girls that were found on his phone as police were investigating his son's death.

The new charges include two counts of sexual exploitation of children and six counts of disseminating harmful material to a minor. The charges are related to sexual photos and chat messages between Harris and three underage girls.

Read Patch's extensive coverage of the case:

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