The proceedings in a Letcher County murder trial continued Wednesday.

A jury has now been selected in the murder trial of James Huffman IV, of Pikeville, who is accused of killing 24-year-old Michael Hogg on New Year’s Day 2014. Jury selection got underway just before 11 am Monday and continued through Tuesday, until the pool of more than 100 prospective jurors was whittled down to 32. On Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys began working through the remaining 32 in order to ultimately select the trial jury of 12 individuals and two alternates.

James Huffman sat in the courtroom quietly during the process and made no statements. He’s accused of stabbing Hogg to death during the course of a fight in the early hours of New Years Day 2014.

Special Letcher Circuit Judge Kent Hendrickson excused jurors following Wednesday’s final selection in order to allow the prosecution and the defense to prepare their opening statements. Other housekeeping issues were addressed, and a hearing regarding the status of a witness was also conducted after the jury was excused.

Opening statements in the trial are expected to be given Thursday morning.

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