Jury selection began on Thursday for the retrial of a Miccosukee man accused of murdering his two young sons.
Potential jurors said they were already aware of the main facts in the case against Kirk Douglas Billie. He admits driving an SUV carrying the boys, ages 3 and 5, into a canal but says he didn't know they were in the car at the time.
The judge hopes to complete jury selection today. Testimony is expected to last two weeks.
In February 2001, a jury found Billie guilty of second-degree murder. But an appeals court threw out the conviction because information about Billie's violent past was allowed at the trial.
The incident took place off the reservation but state investigators tried to go on tribal lands to interview witnesses and seek evidence. The tribe refused to allow state law enforcement onto the reservation.
The tribe has since agreed to cooperate with state law enforcement, a concession that could help the tribe win passage of a bill to retrocede state jurisdiction on tribal lands. Florida is a Public Law 280 state.
Get the Story:Retrial starts for Miccosukee man accused of drowning of 2 boys (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 1/14)
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Second trial for man accused of killing his children (The Native American Times 1/13)
Most Jury Candidates Know Of Boys' Drownings (NBC6 1/13) Court Decision:
Billie v. State (July 30, 2003) Related Stories:
Miccosukee man on trial again for murder of sons (1/13)
Miccosukee man faces retrial for sons' deaths (09/06)
Miccosukee Tribe to cooperate with state police (08/12)
Miccosukee man's murder hearing closed to public (04/21)
Lawyer for accused Miccosukee man disqualified (03/23)
Fla. court overturns conviction of Indian man (7/31)
Billie given two life sentences (4/20)
Billie plans appeal of murder conviction (2/23)
Fla. murder trial winds up (2/22)
Mother testifies about death of sons (2/8)
Murder trial begins in Florida (2/7)
Feds dispute tribe's brand of justice (10/16)
Miccosukee tribe tries to protect sovereignty (9/26)