Judge, location chosen for Norman murder trial

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- A judge and a courtroom has been chosen for the murder trial of the man accused of killing University of Oklahoma ballet student Juli Busken in 1996.<br/><br/>Cleveland County Chief

Thursday, December 22nd 2005, 9:55 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- A judge and a courtroom has been chosen for the murder trial of the man accused of killing University of Oklahoma ballet student Juli Busken in 1996.

Cleveland County Chief District Judge Bill Hetherington says he'll preside over the trial of Anthony Sanchez and the trial will be at the County Courthouse, not at the OU Law Center.

Hetherington takes over the case from Judge Tom Lucas. Lucas stepped aside after learning his son is expected to testify for the prosecution. Lucas had considered holding the trial at the Law Center but prosecution and defense attorneys objected.

Busken was reported missing December 20th, 1996, by her parents who had come from Benton, Arkansas, to take her home for Christmas. Her body was found later that day at Lake Stanley Draper.

Sanchez was a state prison inmate when he was charged after a DNA match was made through a national database.

He's pleaded innocent to murder, rape, sodomy and kidnapping charges. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.