Jury selection begins in Durango murder trial

Wilson Saintil, left, talks with one of his attorneys, Michael Hayes, as jury selection continues for Saintil's trial on murder charge for the 2005 killing of Stephen Holmes, the assistant manager at the Durango's Steak House on 4th Street in St. Petersburg. [Douglas R. Clifford, Times]

Jury selection began this morning in the trial of Wilson Saintil, who is charged with murdering the assistant manager of a Durango Steakhouse in St. Petersburg in 2005. Saintil, a maintenance worker for the restaurant, is accused of murdering Stephen F. Holmes, 29. An exterminator arrived at the restaurant for routine work in the early morning hours of Dec. 12, 2005, and found Holmes dead inside.

Holmes recently had been promoted to assistant manager of the restaurant, 3901 Fourth St. N, and had been closing up for the night when he was killed.

Holmes was a St. Petersburg native and a graduate of Northeast High School.

After several days of investigation, St. Petersburg
police arrested Saintil in connection with Holmes’ death. Detectives said robbery appeared to be the motive. Money was missing from the restaurant. Police said Saintil had handled maintenance for the restaurant for several years and had a key to the business.

Police said physical evidence found at the scene linked Saintil to the murder. Though police wouldn’t say what that evidence was, it will come out this week at trial.

Prosecutors have indicated that they will seek the death penalty against Saintil, who turned 54 last week.

Circuit Judge Nancy Moate Ley told jurors the trial could finish by the end of this week, though it could run into next week.

Times staff writer