Jury selection to begin for restaurant murder trial

Jury selection begins next week in the trial of Modesto Cortes-Serrillo, the man accused of murdering another man outside a Yuma restaurant in 2014.

Judge Brandon Kinsey said there are 140 prospective jurors. They are required to show up next Tuesday morning.

News 11 was denied camera access during the trial, except to cover closing arguments.

According to the Yuma Police Department, U.S. Marshals arrested Cortes-Serrillo, 47, in Mexico City in December 2016, for the fatal shooting at Lin’s Grand Buffet in April 2014.

Cortes-Serrillo allegedly shot 43-year-old Santiago Olivo-Diaz multiple times after an argument. The restaurant was on lockdown for several hours as police interviewed customers who were inside the restaurant during the shooting.

Modesto Cortes and Daisy Cortes were arrested for hindering prosecution after investigators discovered they both helped their father, Cortes-Serrillo, get away.

In September Cortes-Serrillo did not take a plea agreement, prompting the murder trial.