PHOENIX — Lori Daybell faces another jury as her second Arizona trial begins in Maricopa County this week.
Daybell is accused of conspiring to commit attempted murder of Brandon Boudreaux, her ex-nephew-in-law.
The beginning of the trial was postponed on Monday because Daybell was sick.
Opening statements took place on Thursday. Watch in the player below:
On Wednesday, a jury of 14 plus two alternates was selected for her current trial.
Daybell, like in her first trial, will represent herself in this trial.
A jury found Daybell guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in her first Arizona trial in April.
The charge in that case related to the death of her former husband, Charles Vallow.
See all of ABC15's coverage of Lori Daybell's Arizona criminal trials by clicking here.
OPENING STATEMENTS AND KEY WITNESSES THURSDAY - June 5
Opening statements for both sides went quickly, and the jury heard from five total witnesses on the first day of trial.
"Bang, he heard a shot and his window shattered right next to him," described prosecutor Treena Kay during her opening statements. "Brandon hit the accelerator and he took off."
Prosecutors allege Daybell and Cox bought a burner phone. Kay called it a "mistake" that Cox used that phone to access his own Gmail account.
Daybell was accused of making her Jeep available and ready, even keeping Cox's personal phone while he went to Arizona. Kay alleged that Daybell made a call with his phone to try to help provide an alibi for her brother.
Daybell, during her opening statement, leaned on the state's burden of proof, telling the Jury she doesn't have to present evidence or take the stand. During her first Arizona trial, Daybell didn't call any witnesses or present any evidence.
"In this case, the prosecutor was not present during this alleged crime," said Daybell during her opening statements. "The Gilbert Police Department was not present during this alleged crime. So it's their job to fill in the gaps, make up a theory, and present it to you, the jury at trial."
Daybell insisted that her relationship with Boudreaux was "very friendly", and even asked the jury if she was an unknown enemy to him.
As prosecutors worked to lay out all the relationships in the timeline of this story, Daybell kept raising the point that she is the only person charged with this crime. At one point, she told the jurors her brother had passed away due to natural causes and couldn't be here to "defend himself".
Boudreaux took the stand first, describing how in the summer of 2019, his marriage fell apart. He believed Daybell was making accusations against his wife that didn't make sense.
Ultimately, they separated, but Boudreaux said not many people outside his estranged wife knew his new rental address.
Then in October 2019, he said he was coming home from the gym when he saw a dark colored Jeep on his street.
"So, I just immediately thought someone was shooting at me, because I saw a muzzle, and so I hit the accelerator," said Boudreaux. "I no longer was planning on pulling into my driveway."
Daybell told the court she did not have the exhibits needed to cross-examine Boudreaux. The judge said he would allow her to cross-examine him at a later point in the trial.
Five other witnesses took the stand which included the owner of the rental home, a neighbor, and two Gilbert Police Officers.
Daybell chose only to cross-examine the officers, asking about testing on evidence and the investigation. This was a pattern she also tried to use in her first trial.
Daybell was still on cross-examination of the second officer when court wrapped up, so that's how it will start Friday.
There will be an earlier start time of 9:30 a.m.
JURY SELECTION WEDNESDAY - June 4
It took an order from Judge Justin Beresky to get Lori Daybell to court on Wednesday.
She still complained of a headache and asked that the trial not to move forward - but ultimately, Judge Beresky said she had been medically cleared by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Judge Beresky decided they would proceed with jury selection.
That process lasted most of the day, with the Judge deciding to push opening statements to Thursday.
Judge Beresky did note at one point that when potential jurors were in the room, Daybell appeared to be able to speak clearly, but her mannerisms changed when they left.
The jury selected was a near 50/50 split between men and women. A very different jury when compared to the two women and 10 men who made up Daybell's first jury here in Arizona.
There are 16 jurors who were selected, and two will end up serving as alternates.
One of the jurors who served in Daybell's first trial was in court Wednesday, watching.
Tass Reed-Tucker, previously known as juror number eight.
"It's really intense if they have no idea coming in," said Reed-Tucker about the new jurors. "They have no idea what they're getting into."
She said seeing Daybell and being in court gave her flashbacks to just over a month ago.
"I was like oh my gosh," said Reed-Tucker. "It's intense knowing everything now and seeing her knowing everything now."
Opening statements are set for Thursday at 10:00 a.m.
This trial will also be in court on Friday, which is different from the first trial.
ABC15 will stream Lori Daybell's Arizona trial as it unfolds live on the ABC15 streaming app, as well as the ABC15 YouTube channel.
