LIVE COVERAGE: Mark Becker murder trial opens today, 10 a.m.

A jury is selected and testimony will begin Friday with opening statements in the Mark Becker murder trial in Butler County.

Jury selection started Wednesday afternoon and concluded about 6:45 p.m. Thursday in Shell Rock. There are 16 jurors, 10 men and six women. Four will serve as alternates.

Opening statements will start at 10 a.m. today in Butler County District Court in Allison.

Becker, 24, is accused of shooting and killing Ed Thomas, Aplington-Parkersburg football coach, last summer in the high school weight room.

There were several people excused because they were close to Thomas or his family or because they admitted to already determining that Becker was guilty.

Gazette Reporter Trish Mehaffey will liveblog the trial from the Butler County courtroom.