Replay live coverage: Johnathan Mitchell murder trial

Opening statements and testimony will begin 9 a.m. today in the murder trial of Johnathan Mitchell, who is accused of slaying a Cedar Rapids cab driver in 2011.

Mitchell, 35, of Cedar Rapids, is charged with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery. He is accused of killing Cathy Stickley, 54, a Century Cab driver, April 29, 2011. According to a criminal complaint, Stickley's body was found by her vehicle in the 1500 block alley between 2nd and 3rd avenues SE. Stickley died from multiple stab wounds to her neck and head.

The trial was moved from Linn County to Story County District Court last year based on pretrial publicity, which the defense claimed media coverage prevented Mitchell from getting a fair and impartial jury.

The trial, which started Tuesday, is expected to last two weeks. Follow Gazette Reporter Trish Mehaffey's live coverage from the courtroom.

Mitchell's first trial started more than a year ago, last August, but ended in mistrial during jury selection because the prosecutor had a serious medical condition and couldn't continue the trial. There were several continuances before that and a few after the mistrial.

Mitchell also is charged in a separate case from 2010 with beating a man near Coe College. He is charged with willful injury, causing bodily injury, and was out on bond in that case during the time Stickley was killed. He has remained under a $1 million bond after the murder charge.