By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – One of McLean County’s highest profile criminal cases in years goes to trial Monday, starting with the sometimes tedious, but crucial process of picking a jury.
Kirk Zimmerman, 60 is free on bond for allegedly killing his former wife Pamela Zimmerman in November 2014. The well-known financial planner was found dead in her office on East Washington Street with multiple gunshot wounds.
Jury selection might take most, if not all, of this week. Prospective jurors have filled out questionnaires. Many are likely to say they’ve heard about the case, but that’s not enough to be excused from service. Lawyers will ask if they can set aside what they’ve heard and reach a verdict based only on what they hear in court.
The state is expected to present a circumstantial case alleging the Zimmerman’s had a contentious divorce, and he was worried that child support payments would prevent him from retiring from his job at State Farm.
Other prosecution witnesses include friends and relatives who claim Pamela Zimmerman feared her ex-husband,
The jury will also learn about cell phone data that reportedly put him at the crime scene, and prior to that, in Indiana where he allegedly bought a gun.
Authorities have not found the murder weapon.
Zimmerman is represented by St. Louis attorney John Rogers. He said on his website that he’s tried “well over” 125 jury trials in state and federal court, “representing individuals and businesses charged with white collar, murder, sex, and drug offenses.”
The trial is expected to last about six weeks.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
