Jury selection for ex-Mass. House speaker begins

[The Northerner]

BOSTON — Jury selection has begun in the corruption trial of a former speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Salvatore DiMasi and two others are charged in a scheme to rig lucrative state contracts for the software company Cognos in exchange for payments.

DiMasi and co-defendants Joseph McDonough and Richard Vitale have pleaded not guilty.

Joseph Lally, a fourth man charged in the scheme, cut a deal with prosecutors and is expected to testify against the others. The list of potential witnesses includes Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and DiMasi's successor, House Speaker Robert DeLeo.

Jury selection began on Tuesday with the judge asking a pool of 250 prospective jurors to fill out lengthy questionnaires. Opening statements from defense attorneys and prosecutors are not expected until next week.

Source: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/04/26/trial_set_to_begin_for_ex_mass_house_speaker/