Jury nearly chosen for murder trial of Meegan

Bill Gang

Tuesday, Aug. 6, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Opening statements in the James Meegan murder trial over the death nearly six years ago of his 11-month-old daughter are set to begin today after the last few jurors are selected.

The jury selection process that was expected to be complicated by the widespread publicity of the case is half a day ahead of schedule, although the first witnesses won't be called until Wednesday.

Four more jurors must be selected to reach a preliminary panel of 32 before defense and prosecution jurors can begin alternately exercising their nine challenges to reject those they feel would be least sympathetic to their positions.

The result will be 12 jurors and two alternates for the expected two week trial in District Judge Sally Loehrer's courtroom.

Meegan, 39, faces the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Francine Meegan. He is accused of hauling her body to central Arizona in a suitcase, doused her with gasoline and burned her in a lonely gully.

Prosecutors charge that he had shaken the child to death in a fit of anger and then embarked on a cover up that kept even most relatives from ever knowing of the baby's existence.

The tot's charred body was found by cowboys herding cattle along the wash but its identity wasn't determined until early this year when one of Meegan's ex-in laws told authorities the little that he knew about the missing baby.

The truth came out when the Meegans couldn't explain the whereabouts of their baby.

During Monday's jury selection process, Meegan sat quietly in a rust shirt and tie that was in sharp contrast with his usual jail attire and shackles at pre-trial hearings.

He has denied that Francine's death was murder, calling it "an accidental death."

Meegan was offered a plea bargain early in the case that would have let him escape the possibility of the death penalty, but he decided to take his chances with a jury.

Deputy District Attorney John Lukens has alleged that the mutilation caused by the fire and the depravity of the killer's mind justifies death by lethal injection.

Lillian Meegan, the baby's mother, already has pleaded guilty to child neglect for failing to get medical attention for the infant. She admitted to authorities that she went with her husband and children to Arizona and helped him dispose of the baby's body.

She is expected to be a key witness for the state although her plea bargain does not call for her to testify against her husband.

She faces up to 20 years in prison at her September sentencing but, as part of her deal, prosecutors agreed not to oppose probation for her.

James Meegan charged at an early court hearing that his wife lied about his involvement in the baby's death but they have been in close contact during recent weeks and she has attended virtually all of his court appearances.

Lillian Meegan, 35, has regained custody of the couple's four children who were taken away by the Juvenile Court when charges originally were filed.

While the Arizona baby's identity remained a mystery for years, recent DNA tests -- although complicated by blood samples that degraded over the years -- have indicated it is Francine Meegan.

James Meegan in connected to the death, according to court documents, through statements he made to a friend that he became angry when the baby wouldn't stop crying and shook her until was no longer conscious.

Attempts by Lillian Meegan to revive the infant with CPR failed and a decision subsequently was made to quietly dispose of the body rather than call authorities, court records alleged.

The existence of the baby was able to be secreted because she was adopted out to a California couple several days after the birth in exchange for about $30,000.

But the Meegans "repossessed" the baby a few weeks before its death when demands for additional money were rejected.