CORRECTION: Second District Judge Glen Dawson has not yet ruled on whether to allow prosecutors to show a post-slaying photo of Jill Allen in the trial of her husband, Paul Allen, who is accused of paying someone to kill her. A story in Tuesday's newspaper reported incorrectly the status of Dawson's ruling.
FARMINGTON — The prosecution team in the murder-for-hire case against Paul Allen can present forgery and theft evidence detailing how Allen allegedly tried to cover his tracks after hiring someone to kill his wife, a judge ruled Monday.
Second District Judge Glen Dawson also ruled prosecutors may show the 12 jurors, plus three alternates, a black-and-white photo taken after Allen's 24-year-old wife was found murdered. The photo shows blood in her hair, welt marks on her neck and bruises on her face.
Seventy-three jurors reported to the Davis County Courts Complex Tuesday morning to fill out a 24-page questionnaire Tuesday morning, said Mike Edwards, Davis County law clerk.
The questionnaire also asks jurors' opinions on the death penalty. One question asked, "Do you believe in 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?' " Prosecutors are not asking for the death penalty Allen's case.
After reviewing their answers, lawyers from both sides will call jurors back for private interviews Thursday morning. The 15-member jury is expected to be in place by sometime Friday, and Allen's three-week trial will begin Monday, Feb. 7.
Allen, 30, is charged with capital murder, as well as conspiracy and criminal solicitation, both first-degree felonies, for allegedly arranging the murder of his wife, Jill Allen, who was found beaten to death Aug. 28, 1996, in the couple's North Salt Lake condominium.
During a two-hour hearing Monday afternoon, prosecution and defense teams ironed out the final details of Allen's case before Dawson. Topics ranged from longer lunch breaks to Allen's trial attire to possible evidence.
Prosecutors plan to present evidence of forgery and theft, which Dawson ruled "could bolster the state's claim of a conspiracy to commit murder."