LEE COUNTY, S.C. — Opening arguments are set to begin Tuesday morning in the trial of Stephen Green, a man charged in connection with the deadly 2018 prison riot at Lee Correctional Institution, which left seven inmates dead and 22 injured.
A jury was selected in Lee County on Monday afternoon for Green's trial in which he faces charges of murder, assault, and battery by mob and other related offenses. Green is one of 47 inmates charged in connection with the riot.
Green’s trial, which was previously delayed in April due to a medical emergency, is the second jury trial stemming from the prison riot. The first trial, held in December 2023, ended with a guilty verdict for Michael Juan Smith, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Stephen Green faces the most serious charges related to this incident.
During Monday's proceedings, a packed courtroom awaited the selection of 14 jurors.
The prosecution is expected to present evidence over several days, detailing Green's alleged involvement in the violence.
According to SCDC, 47 are involved, including Michael Juan Smith who was found guilty in December, and Green who stands on trial. So far, 15 defendants have pleaded guilty, and two inmates who were charged have since died, leaving 28 cases pending.
The riot, which occurred in April 2018, was reportedly sparked by gang disputes and the control of contraband, including drugs and cell phones. In the aftermath, state corrections officials faced intense scrutiny over prison conditions and their response to the violence.
The trial is expected to last several days.