Trial Begins for Man Charged in Auburn Slayings

OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama jury is scheduled to hear opening statements in the capital murder trial of a man accused of fatally shooting two former Auburn University football players.

A judge told a panel of 12 jurors and four alternates to return to court Friday afternoon for the trial of 24-year-old Desmonte Leonard.

Leonard is charged with killing former Auburn players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips at a pool party in Auburn in June 2012. DeMario Pitts of Opelika also was slain, and three people were wounded.

Testimony in past hearings indicated Leonard was hit with a bottle before the shooting began, and the defense claims he fired in self-defense.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the shootings.

Leonard was captured after an intense three-day manhunt that followed the killings.

(Story by: The Associated Press)