Ray Tensing murder retrial: 3 black jurors, 9 white jurors seated in Cincinnati trial

Three black jurors and nine white jurors have been chosen to hear former University of Cincinnati police Officer Ray Tensing's murder and manslaughter retrial, over the 2015 fatal shooting of Samuel DuBose.

It took four days to select the 12-member jury, which includes a zoo researcher, a full-time nanny and a military serviceman, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Opening statements were set to begin in court on Thursday.

Tensing, who is white, shot DuBose, an unarmed black man, during a traffic stop on July 19, 2015. The shooting was caught on the former officer's body camera, the footage from which contradicted his claims that DuBose drove off and dragged Tensing in an attempt to get away.

Editor's note: The following video contains graphic images.

The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office charged Tensing with murder and voluntary manslaughter, but the jurors seated for a 2016 trial were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on either charge. A mistrial was declared.

On Nov. 22, 2016, Joseph Deters, the county prosecutor, announced that he would retry Tensing for murder and manslaughter.

The racial makeup of the retrial jury is not proportional to the demographics of Cincinnati's nearly 297,000 residents, who are 49% white and 45% black. The jury seated for the original trial had one fewer black juror, according to the Enquirer.

The retrial judge has ruled that certain pieces of evidence presented in Tensing's first trial will not be admitted in the retrial. Out of concern for the issue of race in the case, Hamilton County Judge Leslie Ghiz ruled on May 26 that jurors would not see the Confederate battle flag T-shirt that Tensing wore under his uniform when he shot DuBose, the Associated Press reported.

The trial is expected to last for two weeks. If convicted, Tensing faces up to life in prison.