Ten jurors chosen for Twitchell trial

Jury selection has started for the first-degree murder trial of Mark Twitchell, a local filmmaker who is accused of killing a 38-year-old Edmonton man in 2008.

Almost 200 people arrived at Edmonton’s courthouse for the jury selection process, which has been scheduled to last two days.

Twelve jurors and two alternates will be selected for the trial, which is scheduled to run until the end of April. There are 72 people expected to be called as witnesses during the trial.

Prospective jurors were asked a series of questions, which cannot be reported due to a publication ban, because of concerns that pre-trial publicity may have left a person with a bias in the case.

Twitchell is accused of killing Johnny Altinger, who worked in quality control for an oilfield equipment manufacturer. Police have alleged Twitchell lured Altinger in October 2008 to a rented garage on Edmonton’s south side on the premise of a date with a beautiful woman. They allege Twitchell then killed him.

The case has attracted media attention from across North America.

Twitchell, 31, appeared in court wearing a white collared shirt and khaki pants.

Ten people had been selected to sit on the jury as of mid-afternoon Monday. The jury selection process will continue throughout the day.