LUFKIN, Texas, March 5 (UPI) -- Trial began Monday for a Texas nurse facing the death penalty if convicted of intentionally injecting kidney dialysis patients with bleach.
Kimberly Clark Saenz, 38, of Pollok was arrested in 2008 after a protracted investigation into five deaths and five injuries at the DaVita Dialysis Clinic in Lufkin where authorities said they believed Saenz injected bleach into the bloodstream of kidney dialysis patients, KTRE-TV, Lufkin, reported.
Aside from the capital murder charges, Saenz is also charged with five counts of aggravated assault.
It was unclear what prosecutors will say was Saenz's motive.
The trial before District Judge Barry Bryan began with preliminary discussions involving the prosecution and defense. Saenz's lawyer, Ryan Deaton, said he wasn't prepared to go forward, saying he didn't receive several requested reports.
"Part of me says I want to go forward in this case, I want to get started. Part of me wants to know what's on those documents," Deaton said.
The prosecutor also brought up a report he said he felt was questionable and both attorneys settled on what they said they felt would and would not be allowable to be brought up in testimony.
"I assume we're at a point to bring the jury in," Bryan said.
A 12-member jury panel with three alternates was brought into the court and sworn in.
