Rochester, N.Y. -- Opening statements are set to begin Wednesday afternoon in the second-degree manslaughter trial of Nicole Allen.
Allen's three children were rescued from a burning home on Second Street in September of 2008. Kamari Allen Holmes, 3-years old, later died from injuries she suffered in that fire. Kamari's two younger siblings were severely burned.
She is accused of leaving her young children alone before their home caught fire. Allen told police she had gone to the store, leaving her children, ages three, 18 months, and two months old, home alone for at least half an hour.
A plea deal had originally been reached in the case. However, the judge would not allow it, and now the trial must go forward.
Allen is also charged with three misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
If convicted, she could face 5 to 15 years in prison.
Jury selection was completed Wednesday morning with the selection of six alternates. The judge had denied a defense motion to reject the initial jury pool since the 54 randomly selected people contained no African-Americans.
