LITTLE FALLS -- The trial of a Little Falls man accused of fatally shooting two teenagers who broke into his house gets underway with jury selection today.

65-year-old Byron Smith faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Haile Kifer and Nicholas Brady. Smith is accused of killing the unarmed cousins after they broke into his house north of Little Falls on Thanksgiving Day 2012.

One of Smith's lawyers says Smith was acting in self defense.

The first degree murder charges stand after several attempts by Smith's lawyers to have the charges dismissed.

If convicted, Smith faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.

Smith is currently free on bail.

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