Trial proceedings have started in the case of former Emporia chiropractor Eric Hawkins.
After a five-hour jury selection process, opening arguments and the start of testimony closed down the first day of activities Monday. The trial is slated to take place all week.
Hawkins stands accused of rape against a then-16-year-old girl in 2015 and aggravated sexual battery against a then-22-year-old woman last year.
Hawkins also has a separate but related trial set to begin Aug. 26. That particular trial involves sex battery charges against a then-32-year-old woman from an alleged incident in 2015.
10:30 am Monday: First of two trials against one-time Emporia chiropractor now underway
Jury selection is underway for a one-time Emporia chiropractor accused of rape and other sex crimes.
Once the jury is chosen in the case of Kansas v. Eric Hawkins, opening arguments and testimony will begin — possibly by mid-afternoon.
Hawkins was formally charged last fall and is facing two related trials on three sets of charges over the next two weeks. The first trial is on charges of rape against a then-16-year-old girl in 2015 and aggravated sexual battery against a then-22-year-old last year. Trial is set to go through Friday.
The second trial is on charges of sexual battery against a then-32-year-old woman from 2015. It’s set to begin next Monday and could last until Aug. 28.
