UPDATE: 7:00 p.m. - A jury has been seated in the John Jonchuck trial. 

Twelve jurors, along with four alternates, were selected. Nine men and seven women make up the group.

Attorneys will make opening statements Monday afternoon. 

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Friday is likely the last day of jury selection for the John Jonchuck trial. 

  • Day 5 of jury selection for Jonchuck trial
  • Jonchuck facing murder charges in death of child
  • Jonchuck accused of dropping daughter off Dick Misner Bridge in 2015

Jonchuck is facing first degree murder charges in the death of his child.  The 29-year-old is accused of dropping his 5-year-old daughter Phoebe Jonchuck to her death from the Dick Misner Bridge in 2015. 

Hundreds of potential jurors have been questioned so far this week.  

On Thursday, the judge ended the day with a short list of 67 potential jurors.  Those people returned to court on Friday for another round of questioning. 

During questioning today, the judge talked to potential jurors about the defendant's medications. 

The defense asked the judge this morning to read a specific jury instruction, telling jurors to disregard any odd behavior by Jonchuck while in court — behavior that could be a side effect of the psychotrophic medication he is on. 

If you've been following the Jonchuck case, you're probably familiar with his distinct facial expression in court — a slack jaw and seemingly blank stare. 

That is what phsyciatric nurse Kristina Ramos calls a "flat affect," which is the correct medical term and a sign of schizoaffective disorder — the condition Jonchuck says he has, as well as the medication he's on.

He is also taking Haldol, an antipsychotic used to control hallucinations and delusions.

"To someone like you and I, who don't have a mood disorder, it might be like taking two or three times the dose of Benadryl. Imagine how sedated and tired and foggy you might feel," Ramos said. 

Ramos calls it an uncommon heavy hitter that Jonchuck is not only getting daily, but also by-monthly injections. 

She said it's extreme but perhaps necessary considering what happened before a hearing back in 2016 when Jonchuck refused his daily meds and tried to grab a guard.

"If he missed some people one day, some people three days, you would see he could be hallucinating, he could become delusional again," Ramos said. 

That is something Ramos says could easily affect his competency and ability to stand trial. 

Jonchuck is also taking a drug called Cogentin which is used to counteract the side effects of the psychotropic drug he's taking. 

However, the defense cleary has some concerns and the judge agreed to read the jury instruction to let everyone know that the way Jonchuck acts in court cannot affect jury deliberations at the end of his trial. 

If the jury is seated today, opening statements will begin on Monday. 

Jonchuck has pleaded not guilty to the charges by reason of insanity — and that is what jurors will need to decide, whether he was insane when he killed his daughter. 

Jonchuck's team will focus on showing jurors he is insane, or at least was insane that day.

And the state must prove to jurors that he knew the difference between right and wrong.

Criminal defense attorney Kevin Hayslett, who is not involved in this case, told Spectrum Bay News 9 that these jurors will have to hear difficult details, see heart-wrenching photos, and ultimately set aside their emotions to come up with a verdict.

"This case is difficult because the judge has to ensure even if you've heard information about the case, can you put that aside and be fair and impartial, and only rely on the evidence that comes in the courtroom from witnesses?" Hayslett said.

Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, so either Jonchuck will go to prison for life or he will be sent to a psychiatric hospital and likely never be released.