By Greg Rickabaugh South Carolina Bureau Arthur Hastings Wise faces four charges of murder in the slayings at Aiken's Phelon plant in 1997. More than 100 Beaufort County residents are expected to apear in General Sessions Court. Although 300 were summoned for jury duty, Circuit Judge Thomas W. Cooper Jr. already has excused several dozen people for medical problems, hardships on their family or other reasons. In addition, not everyone answers a court summons, Beaufort County Clerk of Court Elizabeth Smith said. It's like a giant cocktail party.
Authorities say the suspect had been fired from the plant two months earlier.
Judge Cooper selected Beaufort County because of its similarities to Aiken County. In an October hearing, he narrowed his choices to Anderson, Beaufort, Berkeley and York counties, saying he would compare demographic information provided by the state Budget and Control Board. Beaufort County is composed of several islands, including Hilton Head Island, Hunting Island and Fripp Island. The county courthouse, where dozens of potential jurors will be interviewed, is located in the city of Beaufort, which is known for its homes and moss-draped trees. Second Circuit Solicitor Barbara R. Morgan and defense attorneys Carl B. Grant and Gregory Harlow will spend the next few days narrowing down the jury pool to 12 jurors and a few alternates, forming a panel that will be taken to Aiken for the trial.