Jury selection began this morning at the Lowndes County Courthouse in the trial of Brian Holliman.
Holliman, 28, is accused of the Oct. 25, 2008, murder of his wife Laura, 24, at their home at 770 Wolfe Road in Caledonia. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Her death, which was the result of a gunshot wound, was originally investigated as a suicide. However, investigators with the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Department became suspicious of the death.
According to officials, Holliman admitted to the shooting upon further questioning. But during a hearing for a change of venue in the trial sought by the defense last month, Holliman”s attorney, Steve Farese, said it was “not true” that Holliman confessed.
Farese argued in the change of venue hearing that Holliman cannot receive a fair trial in Lowndes County due to pervasive public opinion regarding his guilt or innocence. He said that public sentiment is a direct result of media attention given to the case, some of which he claims is misleading.
Lowndes County Circuit Court Judge Lee Howard ruled after that hearing that jury selection should continue in the case in Lowndes County.
Holliman has been free on bond since a few days after his wife”s death.
According to court records, Holliman”s trial has been continued several times, most recently in August.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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