Prosecution and defense lawyers and Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart spent four days impaneling a jury of 12 plus four alternates before finishing late yesterday.

Although Minehart originally wanted six alternate jurors for the three-week trial, he opted for four, saying the SEPTA strike's end had also ended commuting problems that made some prospective jurors uneasy about serving.

Minehart said testimony would begin Thursday in a case in which the jurors will be asked to impose the death penalty if they find Lewis guilty of first-degree murder.

Although the case could have begun today, prosecutors asked for a day to prepare witnesses and Cassidy's family for the trial's start. Moreover, the Criminal Justice Center will be closed tomorrow for Veterans Day.

When the jurors return Thursday morning, they will be sworn, and Minehart will talk about trial procedure and the law, to orient them for what will come.

Then, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Selber or fellow prosecutor Edward Cameron will make an opening statement outlining their case. That will likely be followed by an opening from defense attorney Michael Coard and the start of testimony.

The lawyers went through almost 325 prospective jurors since Wednesday before finding the 16 who will hear the case. It was an unusually long process for a Common Pleas Court trial in Philadelphia and was caused by difficulty finding people willing to consider the death penalty if they find Lewis guilty of first-degree murder.

The problem was finding people willing to consider imposing the death penalty but who were not predisposed for or against it.

If the jurors find Lewis guilty of first-degree murder, there would be a second proceeding for them to hear evidence about factors - aggravating aspects of the crime, and mitigating points in Lewis' background or personality - that they must weigh in deciding whether to sentence him to death.

Under Pennsylvania law, if the jury votes against a death sentence or cannot decide, Lewis will be automatically sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Lewis, 23, of North Philadelphia, is charged with murder and six armed robberies. The last robbery - a Dunkin' Donuts shop on Broad Street near 66th Avenue - was interrupted when Cassidy walked through the door.

Cassidy, 54, a police veteran of 25 years, was shot in the head and died the next day.