Gary Dunn
Nona Dirksmeyer
Kevin Jones
CLARKSVILLE, Ark. (KTHV) -- Four jurors have been selected so far in the Gary Dunn trial. Dunn is accused of killing Nona Dirksmeyer in 2005. The trial got started Tuesday in Clarksville.
Last month marked the 5th anniversary of the murder of Arkansas Tech student Nona Dirksmeyer. Since then, there have been two arrests and two trials but no conviction.
The state though believes justice for Dirksmeyer will come soon with a third try.
It's been two and a half years since police arrested Gary Dunn. Prosecutors charged him with beating to death his 19-year-old neighbor. He went on trial 8 months ago, but a jury deadlocked after three days of deliberations.
Delayed Monday because of winter weather, a re-trial started Tuesday with a pool of about 150 jurors. So far, four have been chosen. Testimony is expected to start Thursday.
There are 101 people on the witness list, including Dirskmeyer's mother and stepfather and her boyfriend, Kevin Jones. A jury acquitted Jones of the murder in 2007.
Dunn's attorneys are expected to again argue that Jones is the actual killer. Prosecutors dismiss that theory saying DNA on a condom wrapper links Dunn to the crime scene in Dirksmeyer's apartment.
Meanwhile, this trial will be different from the last. The death penalty is now off the table, but prosecutors gave no reason for the change. And this shift away from the death penalty is the only known change their making in their second attempt to win a conviction for Dunn.
Attorneys and witnesses are under a gag order. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.