Minot, North Dakota – The trial for a Minot man accused of murdering a woman in 2021 commenced this week with the process of jury selection. Kamauri Siede Kennedy, 35, is facing two Class AA felony charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in North Central District Court in Minot. The trial is expected to last eight days.
During a hearing in October 2023, Judge Gary Lee informed both parties to anticipate the call of 75-100 potential jurors, with the selection process estimated to take about a day to finalize.
Kennedy stands accused of killing Dominique Kelley on June 3, 2021. Kelley’s body was discovered inside a burning vehicle in Minot. The details of the case, as outlined in the affidavit of probable cause, have been submitted under seal.
At the time of the murder, Kennedy was on federal probation for his involvement in a 2013 jewelry store theft in Atlanta, Georgia, where he, along with others, stole 19 Rolex watches with a total value of $600,000. After serving five and a half years in prison, Kennedy was required to remain in Michigan under the terms of his probation. However, Minot investigators determined that he had been residing in Minot since November 2020.
Shortly after discovering Kelley’s body, Minot police started searching for Kennedy, as they discovered a connection between him and the victim. A residence associated with Kennedy in Minot was deliberately burned, and the vehicle he fled North Dakota in was later found abandoned and burned in the Minneapolis area.
Kennedy’s journey through the court system following his arrest by U.S. Marshals in Michigan in August 2021 has been filled with delays, including his attorney’s attempt to withdraw from the case due to financial issues. However, the withdrawal request was denied to prevent further delays in the proceedings.
The trial is scheduled to continue into next week, with a conclusion expected no later than April 12.