Sequoyah County Court jury seated in second trooper slaying trial

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) _ A jury began hearing the murder case Wednesday against a man tried once before in the killing of an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper. <br><br>The panel was seated by midmorning, 10

Wednesday, January 14th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) _ A jury began hearing the murder case Wednesday against a man tried once before in the killing of an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper.

The panel was seated by midmorning, 10 days after lawyers began questioning potential jurors in the case against Kenneth Eugene Barrett, court officials said.

Barrett is accused of killing David ``Rocky'' Eales in September 1999 during a raid on Barrett's rural Vian home. His first trial on a first-degree murder charge ended in a mistrial when the jury reached an impasse.

The first trial lasted about five weeks.

The 42-year-old also faces one count of shooting with intent to kill for the wounding of trooper John Hamilton and two counts of discharging a firearm with intent to kill for allegedly shooting at troopers Rick Manion and Raymond Greninger.

Eales, 49, was killed as his unmarked Ford Bronco led a five-vehicle tactical team that was attempting to serve a warrant to search for methamphetamine at Barrett's home.