Twelve full jurors and six alternates were finally chosen by the Manhattan court this Friday. They will attend the historic trial of Donald Trump, the first former president of the United States to appear on criminal charges, announced Judge Juan Merchan.
“We have the full jury,” the judge said on the fourth day of hearing, paving the way for the proceedings to begin. Donald Trump is being prosecuted for hidden payments to buy the silence of a former porn star, Stormy Daniels, a few days before the 2016 election which he won narrowly against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
A man tried to set himself on fire
In court, a man attempted to set himself on fire, an act whose motives are still unknown. “A man set himself on fire outside the court. We are collecting information on site,” said an NYPD spokesperson. The victim, with both hands behind his head, turned into a living torch for several seconds before falling to the ground, according to a video of the scene posted on social media.
Police rushed to the man and a fire extinguisher was used against the blaze. At the scene of the fire, in a square opposite the courthouse, clothes were still burning slowly on the ground and a strong smell was emanating, noted an AFP journalist on site.