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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The jury selection process started Monday morning for Dixie Villa, who is on trial for manslaughter.
About 120 potential jurors were called to Circuit Court. The prosecution and defense are working to narrow that down to 12 plus three alternates.
Abigail Lobisch was 7 months old when she died on Feb. 24, 2019 on the Aliamanu Military Reservation.
Villa’s trial has been delayed more than a dozen times, for reasons including COVID closures and unavailable witnesses.
“It’s just really excruciating,” said Katie Camario, a friend of the Lobisch family.
“Five years is a really, really long time to ask grieving families to wait.”
Villa is accused of giving the toddler a fatal dose of diphenhydramine, often called Benadryl.
Diphenhydramine was found in the toddler’s blood and urine, even though the medicine is not recommended for children under the age of six.
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Camario said the delays have made it tough for the family to move forward.
“It would take a toll on any one of us who lost a loved one in such a tragic way,” Camario said.
“Five years without being able to get justice, and that’s not okay.”
Tuesday is the Election Day state holiday, so jury selection will continue Wednesday morning, with opening statements to follow.
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