Charles Severance Goes on Trial for Alexandria Murders

PHOTOS: Charles Severance booking photo; victims Nancy Dunning, Ron Kirby and Ruthanne Lodato

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The trial for Charles Severance, accused in the deaths of three prominent Alexandrians, started Monday with the process of selecting the jury, many of whom were sent home after explaining why they could not serve on the jury.

Severance is charged in the murders of three well-known Alexandrians over 10 years: real estate agent Nancy Dunning in 2003, transportation planner Ron Kirby in 2013 and music teacher Ruthanne Lodato in 2014. Severance is a former Alexandria resident who most recently lived in Ashburn.

Severance’s attorneys asked that the trial be moved to Fairfax; they had also asked that their client not be tried for the 2003 murder, saying it would be too difficult to research.

But Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter said the motives, ballistics and manner of the killings were too similar not to tie together in the murder trial, NBC4 reported.

Charles Severance pled not guilty to charges of killing three Alexandrians in an arraignment held Thursday in Fairfax County Circuit Court, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Many of the potential jurors Monday noted that sitting on a jury for six weeks would be a hardship they couldn’t financially afford because they have bills to pay and families who rely on them, WUSA-9 reported.

The judge and lawyers will talk with more potential jurors Tuesday in the Fairfax courtroom, where the trial is expected to last about six weeks. Prosecutors have said they will not seek the death penalty.

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• Public Defender Says Charles Severance Being Held on ‘Sham’ Charges
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• Woman Reportedly Purchased Guns for Severance; Public Defender, Again, Asks for His Release Under ‘Sham’ Charges
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