HASTINGS – Jury selection for a Mower County murder trial began Monday, and could take an unusually long time, court personnel say.

Tuesday, May 15, 2001

HASTINGS – Jury selection for a Mower County murder trial began Monday, and could take an unusually long time, court personnel say.

Three men accused of murdering two roofers in an Austin motel last year appeared before Third-District Judge Donald Rysavy in a Dakota County courtroom.

Tuesday morning, the 99 potential jurors who filled out questionnaires Monday will begin individual interviews with attorneys, said Dakota County Jury Manager Judy Gilbert. The case’s three defendants could make selection longer than the standard week, she said.

&uot;It’s hard to say because of the triple defense,&uot; Gilbert said. &uot;I anticipate it’s going to take longer to start because of the four attorneys.&uot;

Attorneys for defendants Vernon Neal Powers, Jr., 28, Scott Perry Christian, 30, and David Kenneth Christian, 28, will each be able to strike 15 potential jurors from the jury pool, Gilbert said. Prosecutors can also strike undesirable jurors.

The attorneys should be able to interview about 10 potential jurors per day, until 12 jurors and two alternates are selected, she said.

A gag order imposed by Rysavy prohibited attorneys from discussing Monday’s proceedings or interview criteria. Rysavy had the proceedings moved to the Dakota County Courthouse in Hastings, ruling pretrial publicity in Mower County jeopardized the defendants’ right to fair trial.

Powers, Scott Christian, and David Christian face first-degree murder charges for allegedly shooting three men during a robbery in a downtown Austin motel last June, killing two and injuring the third.