Jury selection and opening statements took place yesterday in the murder trial of Lee Maynard, who is accused of fatally shooting his half-brother, Charles Maynard, at a residence on Fox Lane near Jamestown in April 2023.
Jury selection began yesterday morning and lasted roughly four hours, as attorneys narrowed a pool of 95 potential jurors down to 14 seated members — 12 jurors and two alternates. The jury consists of seven men and seven women.
Opening statements began after a lunch break.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Leveridge told jurors the evidence would show Lee Maynard, who was 18 at the time, intentionally shot and killed Charles Maynard, 22, on April 5, 2023.
Defense attorney James Acton, with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, argued during opening statements that Lee acted in self-defense.
Leveridge outlined the Commonwealth’s case, telling jurors that Charles Maynard became angry over a missing ID card and accused Lee of stealing it, leading to a heated verbal altercation.
The commonwealth alleges Lee was the aggressor during the confrontation, allegedly brandishing a handgun and placing it against Charles’ neck.
Prosecutors allege the two then became involved in a physical struggle, during which Lee fired two shots at close range. One bullet struck Charles in the shoulder area, while the other struck him in the abdomen. Charles was pronounced dead at the scene by the Russell County Coroner’s Office.
The Commonwealth also alleges Lee fled the scene after the shooting. Kentucky State Police located him the following day walking along U.S. 127 near Dunnville, where he was arrested.
During the defense’s opening statement, Acton contended that Charles placed his hands around Lee’s neck before Lee drew the handgun from his waistband and fired in self-defense.
Attorneys also noted during opening statements that no weapon was found in Charles’ possession at the time of the incident. Investigators did recover a bag of marijuana, and toxicology reports indicated THC was present in his system.
The trial resumes Wednesday morning at 8:30 at the Russell County Judicial Center, with witness testimony expected throughout the day.
