Jury selection underway in trial for stepfather of missing Madalina Cojocari
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Jury selection started Wednesday in the trial of Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather accused of failing to file a report on his stepdaughter’s disappearance.
That stepdaughter, Madalina Cojocari, has been missing since November 2022, and her missing persons case has gained national and international attention due to the circumstances.
Wednesday’s events also included some pre-trial discussions about the possibility of having Palmiter’s wife and Madalina’s mother, Diana Cojocari, testifying.
The judge over the case said that the decision on Diana Cojocari testifying would likely come at a later time. Cojocari’s lawyer was present in court Wednesday to discuss the matter.
Fifty-four potential jurors were called into the courtroom Wednesday. As of Wednesday afternoon, three have been excused.
During discussions with the potential jurors, prosecutors noted they would likely bring forth an interview that was captured on body-worn camera, in addition to several witnesses.
Palmiter has pled not guilty to the charge of failing to file a report on the disappearance of a child. Cornelius Police said he and Diana Cojocari did not report Madalina missing for three weeks after she went missing, and only did so after Madalina’s school started questioning the girl’s absences.
MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS
Continuing Coverage
Jury selection underway in trial for stepfather of missing Madalina Cojocari
Jury selection set for Madalina Cojocari’s stepfather as mother released from jail
Finding Madalina: Stepfather Palmiter’s trial set to start after delay over new evidence
Diana Cojocari pled guilty to the same charge earlier this week. She was sentenced to time served for the 17 months she was at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center. The judge in that case noted that Diana Cojocari had already served the maximum sentence for the crime while in jail. She walked out of jail Tuesday, surrounded by lawyers and cameras, saying very little.
The unusual nature of Madalina’s disappearance has led to various searches in locations that could possibly be connected to the child’s disappearance. The case has also garnered a great deal of media attention, even internationally, due to Diana Cojocari being from the eastern European country of Moldova.
Diana Cojocari still faces the possibility of being deported for her guilty plea to the failure to report charge, which is a felony. So far, there are no indications of when or if that will happen.
Madalina Cojocari remains missing to this day. Palmiter and Diana Cojocari have given no indication on her whereabouts, and have stated to police that they did not know where the girl was. Diana Cojocari’s family have previously said that they believe Madalina may be alive and being sex-trafficked.
However, court filings so far have claimed Diana Cojocari had feared Palmiter and had been possibly looking to leave him, prior to Madalina’s disappearance.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
