BRENTWOOD – Jurors seated in the trial of ex-Salem Planning Board member Jeffrey Gray are expected to hear opposing portraits of the 35-year-old Queens, New York woman he is accused of kidnapping and raping last March.

Jury selection wrapped up this morning in Rockingham County Superior Court for Gray, 49, who goes on trial Wednesday in Rockingham County Superior Court.

The woman was 7 months pregnant when she was allegedly raped, and defense lawyers want to keep jurors from learning that the woman has lost her baby since the assault.

Prosecutors said they would not seek to introduce that fact in front of the jury.

But how much the jury will learn about the woman and her short relationship with Gray will depend on the direction of the testimony.

Gray's trial comes more than a year since he was arrested March 29, upending his role on the town board.

The woman told police that Gray acted “like a baby” during the alleged assaults that happened between March 8 and 9.

She described his use of baby blankets, adult-sized diapers, a baby bottle and other items, which police later recovered during a search of the home.

Defense lawyers are expected to argue that sex between Gray and the woman was consensual.

Jurors may hear about how Gray and the woman met through an advertisement on Craigslist.

She was in search of a roommate, and Gray flew her up from New York, according to police.

Defense lawyers have said that Gray and the woman spent a day at a local mall shopping, having dinner before the two had sex at Gray's home on March 8.

Gray, prosecutors maintain, tried to get the woman to mimic pornography he played on his computer and punched her in the head when she refused to have sex with him.

Gray was indicted on a single count of kidnapping, nine counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault, and misdemeanor counts of simple and sexual assault. He faces up to 10 to 20 years in state prison if a jury convicts him of the sexual assault charge.

Gray has remained jailed on $50,000 bail since his arrest. Last May, he was ordered to pay off approximately $23,000 in outstanding child support before posting bail.

>strong>WHAT'S NEXT: Opening arguments begin Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Correspondent James A. Kimble can be reached at: jkimble@newstote.com