CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — A jury is now seated for the DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide trial against Cassandra Smith.

The Massachusetts woman is accused of driving drunk on I-75, swerving across three lanes and slamming into Charlotte County Deputy Christopher Taylor, 23, back in November 2022. Taylor had parked his patrol vehicle on the side of the highway as part of a traffic stop. 

Judge Geoffrey Gentille denied Smith’s bond at her arraignment since this was the second time she was arrested for a DUI in a short period.

A group of four men and four women will sit in the jury box to hear the evidence throughout the rest of the week. Six of those people will decide Smith’s fate. The remaining two are alternates. However, it is unknown which of the two will be sitting out of the decision process.

Opening statements begin Wednesday at 9 a.m.

If convicted, Smith faces more than 30 years in prison for charges including DUI manslaughter, two counts of DUI damage to property or another person, vehicular homicide and refusing to submit to a DUI test following a suspended license.