Jury selection nears end in trial of man charged with killing one-time Auburn football players

Published January 08, 2015

Jury selection is nearly complete in the murder trial of a man charged with killing two one-time Auburn University football players and a third person at a party.

The Opelika-Auburn News (http://bit.ly/1u1Gpir) reports opening statements are expected Friday in the trial of 24-year-old Desmonte Leonard.

Lee County prosecutors and defense lawyers are in a fourth day of questioning potential witnesses in Opelika on Thursday.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Leonard for the shooting that also wounded three more people at a party in Auburn in 2012. The dead included former Auburn football players Ladarious Phillips and Ed Christian.

Leonard has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers say the shooting was in self-defense.

Leonard surrendered after a three-day manhunt.

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