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(NewsDakota.com) – Jury selection is underway in the murder trial of 34-year-old Leron Lee Howard at the Stutsman County Courthouse.

Opening statements in the trial could be made Wednesday afternoon, depending on how quickly jury selection progresses. Howard is facing Class AA Felony charges of murder and criminal conspiracy related to the April 2011 death of 18-year-old Abdi Ali Ahmed.

Howard faces up to life in prison without parole if he is convicted.

The potential juror pool started with about 80 people, including about 20 from neighboring Barnes County.

Earlier this year, Howard and his attorney Steven Mottinger had requested the trial be moved out of Stutsman County, saying media coverage of co-defendant Janelle Cave’s trial in February would make it tough to find a fair and impartial jury in Stutsman County.

Judge Thomas E. Merrick denied that request, but did expand the juror pool to include those potential jurors from Barnes County.

Testimony in the case could begin Thursday.