HEBER CITY (AP) — Jury selection has begun in the murder trial of Duchesne County rancher John R. Pinder, who is accused of killing two employees and attempting to blow up their bodies to hide the evidence.
The jury selection began Monday and a jury likely will not be empaneled until sometime later this week. Opening arguments are scheduled July 6 before 4th District Judge Lynn W. Davis.
Pinder, 42, is accused of shooting two of his employees Oct. 25, 1998. Police say June Flood, 59, and Rex Tanner, 48, were killed on Pinder's remote ranch after he abducted them from their nearby Strawberry River home west of Duchesne. Prosecutors say Pinder said he killed the pair because they had stolen from him.
The trial was moved from Duchesne County to Wasatch County after a change of venue was granted. A further shift was requested earlier this year by defense attorney Ron Yengich, who expressed concerns about safety at the Wasatch County courthouse and asked the trial take place in Provo. Davis ruled it would stay in Heber City.
Two assistant attorneys general are assisting Duchesne County Attorney Herb Gillespie in the prosecution.
Pinder is being held in the Summit County Jail at Park City.
In November, Pinder's ranch hand, Filomeno Valenchia-Ruiz, pleaded guilty to murder charges in the two deaths and agreed to testify against Pinder. In exchange, prosecutors dropped numerous other felony charges. He was sentenced to five years to life and is in the Utah State Prison.