Twelve jurors were chosen Thursday afternoon in the first trial connected to the murder of St. Johns County father of four Jared Bridegan.
Four alternates were also selected in the trial of Mario Fernandez Saldana.
Fernandez Saldana, the estranged husband of Bridegan's ex-wife Shanna Gardner, is accused of hiring Henry Tenon to shoot and kill Bridegan on Feb., 16, 2022 in Jacksonville Beach.
Bridegan had just dropped off his twins, who he shares with Gardner, when he was driving down Sanctuary Boulevard. A tire was placed in the road and when Bridegan got out to move the tire, he was shot while his then-2-year-old daughter Bexley was in the car.
Gardner and Tenon are also charged in Bridegan's murder.
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Lots of jurors have expressed concerns about having to be away from work and prove to their bosses that they really had to be in court for several days, possibly several weeks.
Judge London Kite also informed them Thursday that the jurors will be sequestered during the trial, but will be allowed to go home for lunch.
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According to the schedule laid out by Kite, the trial of Fernandez Saldana should wrap up by late August.
Then, Gardner's trial is scheduled begin with jury selection on Monday, Aug. 31. Tenon, who initially pleaded guilty and then withdrew that plea, is set to go to trial in March.
Photos: Jury selection for Mario Fernandez Saldana, 1 of 3 suspects accused in Jared Bridegan murder