Jury Selection Begins In Lunsford Murder Trial

Jury selection began Monday in the trial for John Evander Couey, a 48-year-old convicted sex offender who faces the death penalty for Jessica's 2005 slaying.

Circuit Judge Richard Howard denied a defense request to further delay the trial, saying, "The fact of the matter is, this case is going forward." A few minutes later, he began questioning prospective jurors about their knowledge of the heavily publicized case.

Publicity had forced the trial to be moved from Citrus County, where the crime occurred, to Miami.

Choosing a jury was expected to consume much of the week, with the final panel sequestered. News organizations are barred from showing the faces of jurors or reporting their names.

[Source: AP via Yahoo! News]