PRE-JURY SELECTION FOR PEDREROS TRIAL UNDERWAY

For the next few days the Trinity County Court House will conduct a pre-jury selection for the trial of The People Of California versus Claudia Pedreros.“If everything goes well, we may do opening statements later this week and begin evidence later this week," said Deputy District Attorney Adam Grace. Pedreros was charged with murder and child cruelty after the body of her two year old daughter Sophia was found floating in the Trinity River back in May of 2011. “The Defendant is facing three counts,” Grace said. “One is a murder count, another is assault on a child that results in death, and the third is child abuse with great bodily injury."What’s to decide now is the mental state of Pedreros at the time of the drowning. Defense Attorney Russell Klanton didn’t have much to say, only that it would be a difficult process for everyone involved. "I think the information is a public document,” Klanton said. “There are some challenges that both sides face."The Honorable Clark Sueyres of San Joaquin will be the judge presiding over the trial.Sueyres warned the potential jurors that this could be a lengthy case, and that he doesn’t expect it to be complete until December 14. Klanton said he is glad the trial is finally moving forward."We're going to proceed under the guidance of the court with confidence in the jury system and we're looking forward to presenting our case," Klanton said.The defendant’s husband, Robert Parker declined to comment, but said this has been a tough time having to live through it all again.