Judge in Oklahoma rejects request to move trial of man charged in death of Australian athlete

DUNCAN, Okla. – An Oklahoma judge has rejected a request to move the murder trial of a 17-year-old charged in the shooting death of an Australian college baseball player.

Attorneys for Chancey Luna of Duncan asked that the trial be moved from Stephens County to Lawton or Oklahoma City because of widespread publicity about the case.

District Judge Ken Graham said Thursday that he believes a fair and impartial jury can be found. The Oklahoman reports (http://bit.ly/1NEsMfr ) that Graham said he may revisit the question during jury selection — scheduled to begin April 13.

Luna is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 22-year-old Christopher Lane as Lane jogged along a Duncan street. Lane was a member of the East Central University baseball team and was visiting his girlfriend in Duncan.