MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Jury selection started Monday in the capital murder trial of Ibraheem Yazeed, who is accused of killing 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard.
Blanchard, a Southern Union State Community College student from Homewood, was killed after being abducted from an Auburn gas station in 2019.
Timeline of Aniah Blanchard kidnapping case
Since then, state lawmakers have passed Aniah’s Law, expanding the authority of judges in some cases. Lawmakers said Aniah’s Law has been effective since voters passed it as a constitutional amendment in 2022. Some said more should be done to strengthen the statute, but others disagreed.
Aniah’s Law allows judges to deny bail for certain crimes, including murder, robbery and first-degree human trafficking. The law was passed after Blanchard’s alleged murderer was arrested while out on bond for other charges. Lawmakers said Aniah’s Law has protected the citizens of Alabama…