SALISBURY — The man charged in the deaths of two people in Town Creeke Park in August of 2018 is now on trial in Rowan Superior Court.

Willie Earl Williams Jr., now 38, is facing two counts of first degree murder for the deaths of Sabrina Curzi, 40, and Darryl Wright, 34.

Police have said there was a gathering held at the park that afternoon but that the victims were not participants. They arrived sometime before 4 p.m., allegedly to confront men who had reportedly attacked Curzi’s son earlier. The victims were then shot and killed.

The report of the initial assault of Curzi’s son says he was beaten on the head and shoulders with a glass bottle and kicked in the torso repeatedly. A cell phone was reportedly stolen from him during the assault.

Three men were identified as suspects and were eventually arrested. Eugene William Black Jr., 24, and Ronald Earl Powers, 32, were each charged with common law robbery. Powers was also charged with assault inflicting serious bodily injury.

Williams initially faced robbery and assault charges as well as first-degree murder but on the first day of trial, the state agreed to drop the other charges.

Assistant District Attorneys Caleb Newman and Johnna Shumate are prosecuting on behalf of the state, and Doug Smith is acting as defense attorney. Judge William Stetzer of Gaston County is assigned to the case.

It took two and a half days to seat a jury of 12, including four men and eight women, and two alternates, one male and one female, were seated late Wednesday morning.

“You become the sole judges of the weight of the evidence and the testimony of the witnesses,” Stetzer told potential jurors as voir dire began Monday.

Over time, a large number of the potential jurors were excused for cause, and several more were released by peremptory challenge from either side. On Wednesday morning, the judge had called for a second round of potential jurors. He expressed concern that the first round of those called would not leave enough to fill the jury at the rate they were going, but as it turned out, they were able to seat 14 without having to call on any of the second round. Following the jury selection, the state began calling witnesses, and has begun introducing evidence in the case.

A number of investigators from Salisbury Police and an agent from the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) have all been called to verify evidence that is entered in the case. It takes time, as Stetzer noted, for the information to coalesce, as evidence is entered before a full picture emerges of the incident.

Several friends and family of the victims are in court and there have been several difficult moments. On Wednesday, body camera from one of the Salisbury Police investigators was played and glimpses of the victims were captured, bringing one person to quiet tears. Thursday morning, photos from SBI agents were shown to jurors that included images of both victims, including injuries. Several jurors had noted they were concerned about how they might react to such graphic images, but everyone in the courtroom maintained their composure.

A number of pieces of evidence have been introduced, but how each connects to the case has not yet been established.

The trial is expected to finish by the end of next week.