Indeed, the judge just wants to make sure that the jury pool isn't tainted since it's a small community and that the jury comes back having reached their decision based on a detached analysis of the evidence presented and not simply on emotion and sympathy for the victime or the families. It makes for less appealable issues I think. It's a BIG trial for the area and he doesn't want to leave a legacy of mistakes.
She looks like such a young vibrant girl. So sad and senseless.
Big hairy perp looks scarey and younger ginger perp has some weird eyes, in the picture they look black. So I will be curious to find out what these boys were into.