Jury selection begins in midshipman murder trial

Zamora
CNN's Charles Zewe reports 2 min. 21 sec. VXtreme video

January 20, 1998
Web posted at: 7:22 a.m. EST (1222 GMT)

FORT WORTH, Texas (CNN) -- Jury selection begins Tuesday in the trial of a former U.S. Naval Academy midshipman who, along with her fiance, is accused of killing her romantic rival.

Texas State District Judge Joe Drago is expected to question more than 200 prospective jurors before seating a jury in the trial of Diane Zamora, who was arrested after she reportedly confessed to the December 1995 murder.

The trial will be televised, and two newspaper photographers will be allowed in the courtroom.

According to investigators, during a dormitory bull session at the U.S. Naval Academy, a midshipman idly posed the question: "What's the worst thing you have ever done in your life?"

"Murder," was Zamora's reply, according to investigators.

Graham

Investigators claim that nine months prior to the confession, Zamora ordered her fiance -- Air Force cadet David Graham -- to kill Adrianne Jones on a darkened, secluded road because of his one-time sexual tryst with the 16-year-old high school sophomore. Zamora, who turns 20 on Wednesday, and Graham had planned to wed in 2000.

Police say Zamora beat Jones with a dumbbell weight in the Texas field and that Graham shot her twice in the head as she tried to flee. Both Graham and Zamora reportedly confessed to the slaying in separate statements to detectives.

The killing already has led to two books and a TV docudrama. In one of the books, Zamora is quoted as telling police she ordered Jones killed because she "deserved it" and that "she'd do it again" if given the chance.

Only about two dozen of the prospective jurors said they have not heard of the case. Still, Drago remains "somewhat" optimistic he can seat a jury by January 27, with testimony to begin February 2.

"I'm still somewhat confident, maybe not as confident as I was a month ago," he said.

Zamora could get life in prison if convicted. Under Texas law, she would have to serve a minimum of 40 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

Attorneys for Zamora are expected to try to get most of her reported confession thrown out. Lawyer John Linebarger does not acknowledge his client participated in the killing, but at the same time says whatever role she may have played came at the orders of her fiance.

"David was a domineering, controlling individual, and she was subservient and did everything he said," Linebarger said.

Graham will be tried later this year and remains in jail under $250,000 bond.

Graham's attorney says the confessions were coerced. "What the world needs to understand is that it may not be accurate and it may not be admissible," attorney Dan Cogdell said.

Correspondent Charles Zewe contributed to this report.

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