OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The trial began Monday for the ex-U.S. Marine accused of murdering two Kissimmee police officers.
Everett Miller is facing first-degree murder charges in the 2017 shooting deaths of Officer Matthew Baxter and Sgt. Sam Howard.
The judge said he expects it will take a week to a week and a half to seat a jury in the high-profile case.
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The court is continuing to work through the first set of 76 potential jurors who were called in Monday morning.
Miller was dressed in civilian clothes as he sat in front of potential jurors, after the judge last week denied his request to wear his military uniform at trial.
At one point, Miller was seen giving a grin to his attorney while getting a mint, while in the gallery family and friends of the victims looked on.
It's been two years since Howard and Baxter died after they were gunned down on a Kissimmee street.
This trial is one of a handful of cases stripped from Orange-Osceola state attorney Aramis Ayala by the governor after she announced she wouldn't pursue the death penalty in any cases.
"Do not let even your closest family members talk to you about this," said Judge Greg Tynan while talking to the jury pool.
Tynan is also concerned about media exposure in this case. Of the 76 potential jurors called, 32 said they had some knowledge of the case.
It will be up to the judge and attorneys on both sides to find 12 jurors and four alternates who will decide Miller's fate.
People who are not eliminated Monday because of any hardship or exposure to the details of this case, will be brought back Friday for more questioning about the death penalty.
Another 76 prospective jurors are expected to be brought in Tuesday for the same type of questioning.
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