Jury selection begins in first criminal case against Cleotha Abston
Cleotha Abston (middle) appeared in Judge Louis Montesi’s courtroom for his arraignment on Sept. 6, 2022. Abston has been charged with raping Alicia Franklin and killing Eliza Fletcher. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
Abston’s attorney previously tried to have jurors from Davidson County used in the trial, arguing that excessive media coverage of the Eliza Fletcher case would taint a potential local jury pool.
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Cleotha Abston Alicia FranklinAarron Fleming
Aarron Fleming covers public safety for The Daily Memphian, focusing on crime and the local court system. He earned his bachelor’s in journalism and strategic media from the University of Memphis.
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