Jury Selection Completed in Byron Smith Murder Trial

LITTLE FALLS -- Jury selection has wrapped up in the case of a Little Falls man standing trial on murder charges.

Fourteen jurors have been seated for the Byron Smith trial in Morrison County. Seven men and seven women have been chosen to act as jurors in the case where Smith is charged with first degree murder in the shooting deaths of two teenagers who broke into his home on Thanksgiving 2012. Twelve jurors will decide the case with two alternates. It hasn't been determined who will serve as the alternates.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled to take place Thursday to discuss various items in the case prior to opening arguments Monday morning.

The 65-year-old Smith is charged with two counts of premeditated first-degree murder for the 2012 killings of 17-year-old Nick Brady and 18-year-old Haile Kifer. Smith contends he was defending himself when he shot the teens after they entered his home. Authorities say he shot them multiple times after they were no longer a threat.