Long jury selection process in store for murder trial involving former bodyguard of Joyce Meyer

In Perry County, Illinois, the criminal trial of a former bodyguard of televangelist Joyce Meyer has begun with a lengthy jury selection process. Opening arguments are scheduled for April 25.

Chris Coleman is accused of strangling his wife Sheri and sons Gavin and Garret in their Columbia, Illinois home in May 2009. He pleaded not guilty.

Selection of 12 jurors and 4 alternates is expected to take two weeks. On Monday, the judge ordered that an additional 80 potential jury members be brought in, in case they are needed. One of the big issues associated with the jury selection is whether or not the potential jurors believe in the death penalty. Illinois has banned the death penalty, but the law does not take effect until this summer.

According to the news station KSDK,

Prosecutors say Coleman murdered his family because he was having an affair. They say Coleman wanted to leave his wife but his job with televangelist Joyce Meyer would have been in jeopardy if they divorced. Meyer and her son taped their testimony last week since they'll be out of town during the trial.

Meyer, along with her son Dan, were deposed in early April and did not reveal much about the deposition.