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| Thursday, January 25 ESPN.com news services | |||
| JANESVILLE, Wis. -- A jury of five women and nine men was
selected Wednesday for the sexual assault trial of former Green Bay
Packers star Mark Chmura.
He is charged with sexually assaulting his children's
17-year-old former baby sitter during a drunken prom party. The
31-year-old player could get up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
Chmura has pleaded innocent to felony charges of third-degree
sexual assault and child enticement.
Opening statements are set for Thursday at the Waukesha County
Courthouse.
Chmura lawyer Gerald Boyle requested the jury be drawn from
outside the county to minimized publicity he described as more
intense than for the Jeffrey Dahmer trial. Boyle defended the
Milwaukee serial killer.
Judge Mark Gempeler is expected to rule Thursday on a defense
request not to allow as evidence a revised statement by witness
Mike Kleber.
Kleber first told police he saw the girl go into the bathroom
with a smile on her face. He later changed his statement to say he
didn't remember much about the party. Boyle contends District
Attorney Paul Bucher coerced Kleber into changing his story.
Boyle also asked Gempeler on Wednesday to lift a gag order
imposed in November. Gempeler refused, saying the order has served
the case well.
The party occurred at the Hartland home of Chmura's friend,
Robert Gessert. He is accused of fondling an 18-year-old woman at
the party. He has pleaded innocent to sexual assault charges, and his trial is
to begin March 13. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison. | ALSO SEE
Jury selection begins for assault trial of former Packer ChmuraAUDIO/VIDEO
  ESPN's Scott Walker reports on the lastest news of the opening statements from the Mark Chmura sexual assault trial.RealVideo: 28.8 | ||