The trial of Jacob Seelinger has begun

Much of the first day of the first degree murder trial of 18-year-old Jacob Seelinger of Decorah was spent Monday largely on the selection of jurors.

As of 3:30 Monday afternoon, the panel of 14 jurors--12 jurors and two alternates--had not yet been selected.  However, testimony in the trial is expected to begin Tuesday morning.

During jury selection, Special Assistant State Attorney General Scott Brown told potential jurors "We're going to be talking about the death of David Hansen."  Brown said some of the photos taken at the scene of the attack on Hansen would show blood.

Defense Attorney James Metcalf of Waterloo told jurors they should not make a decision until all the facts are in.  That decisions should involve, according to Metcalf, "what Jake Seelinger did or did not do...I don't want the other guy's problems (a reference to Dalton Adam) to become Jake's problems."

Testimony in the trial is expected to take place at least Tuesday and Wednesday.  The trial is expected to wrap up by Thursday.

Seelinger is accused of first degree murder and causing willful injury in connection with the August 31st death of 46-year-old Dave Hansen of Decorah.  Hansen was the victim July 12th of what police officers described as a "brutal" beating at his home in Freeport.  Seelinger and Dalton Adam were taken into custody in July and charged with attempted murder--charges which were changed to first degree murder after Hansen died.  Both Seelinger and Adam remain in custody in the Winneshiek County Jail.