Courts

10 men, 4 women chosen for jury in Sackett murder trial

Published

5 years ago

October 21, 2019

Murder suspect Erik Sackett and attorneys listen to Judge Elliott Levine during the opening day of Sackett's trial in La Crosse

Fourteen jurors have been chosen from a pool of 67 to hear the La Crosse murder trial of Erik Sackett.

Jury selection started around 9 a.m. on Monday and was finished by 3 p.m.

The 10 men and four women will hear opening arguments Tuesday for the trial, which could last twp weeks.

Sackett was charged in August of 2018 with killing his former girlfriend, Erin Somvilai (Bushek).

He was arrested several weeks after the victim’s body was found in a Vernon County lake tied to concrete blocks.

Prosecutors believe Somvilai was killed after threatening to have Sackett arrested and sent back to prison, where he had already served time.

The defense argues that Somvilai could have committed suicide, or was murdered by a different suspect.

Related Topics:Erik Sackett jurors chosen

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.