JURY SELECTION TO BEGIN IN BRIONI RUTLAND MURDER TRIAL

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) – The trial for a man charged in connection with a 2013 capital murder case is scheduled to begin.

The TimesDaily reports court officials say jury selection in Jeremy Williams’ case will begin Monday.

Thirty-one-year-old Williams of Florence is charged in the death of 27-year-old Brioni Rutland. Williams is accused of stabbing and shooting Rutland before dumping his body off a bridge. Rutland was last seen alive in November 2013.

Authorities say a preliminary autopsy showed Rutland was stabbed over 30 times and shot once in the head at close range before being thrown into the Tennessee River.

Williams pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental defect. He claimed Rutland’s death was an act of self-defense. He was arrested Nov. 30, 2013 and indicted in December 2014.

Photo Courtesy: al.com