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Jury selection complete in fatal prison riot prosecution

The four defendants are among 18 inmates charged in the riot in which one CO was and three other staffers were held hostage

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This Dec. 22, 2017, file photo shows the front entrance of the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Del. Delaware taxpayers have shelled out more than $360,000 in legal defense costs for 18 prisoners charged in a deadly prison riot last year - and the bills will continue to pile up as the trials get under way.

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File

WILMINGTON, Del. — Jury selection is complete in the trial of four Delaware inmates charged with murder, kidnapping and other crimes following a fatal prison riot.

With the process of picking jurors completed Thursday, opening statements and initial testimony are slated for Oct. 22.

The four defendants are among 18 inmates charged in the riot. One inmate has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the others, who will be tried in five separate groups.

Inmates at the state’s maximum-security rioted on Feb. 1 last year, killing Correctional Officer Steven Floyd and taking three others hostage.

Two other COs were released by inmates after being beaten and tormented. A female counselor was held hostage for almost 20 hours before tactical teams burst through a wall with a backhoe and rescued her.

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