CHARLOTTE — Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of two defendants accused of killing Mary Collins, a 20-year-old Charlotte woman with disabilities whose body was found in a NoDa apartment in 2020.
The trial is expected to take weeks and comes six years after Collins’ death.
Collins’ grandmother described her as quirky, funny and shy. She loved taking pictures.
Six years ago, Collins disappeared. A week later, her body was found.
Detectives said Collins was stabbed more than 130 times, wrapped in plastic and stuffed inside a mattress.
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Lavi Pham and James Salerno are on trial in connection with her death. Both are charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and other charges.
On Tuesday morning, a jury pool of more than 50 people entered the courtroom. Potential jurors are being questioned 12 at a time to determine whether they will be selected for the trial.
Judge Karen Eady-Williams said Monday that the trial is expected to last six weeks.
She also warned that the proceedings will be difficult for jurors, with graphic photos and testimony expected to be presented during the trial.
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