The murder of Harold “Uri” Sellers, who was stabbed to death on Welch Avenue during the last Veishea celebration, will go to trial this week.

Jury selection for the trial against Michael Runyan, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Runyan is charged with first-degree murder, which has a penalty of imprisonment for life without possibility of parole.

The state alleges Runyan, while at last spring’s Veishea celebration on April 20, 1997, argued with Sellers on the lawn of the Adelante fraternity house, 318 Welch Ave.

Luke Abrams, also of Fort Dodge, was present at the time of the argument.

The state will allege Runyan and Abrams left the scene, but later returned with a knife, which Runyan used to fatally stab Sellers.

Abrams has pleaded guilty to charges of going armed with intent and being an accessory.

Abrams is expected to testify against Runyan in during the trial.

The trial is scheduled to be held at Story County Courthouse in Nevada.

Stephen Holmes and Angelina Smith, assistant Story County attorneys, will prosecute the case.

Julia Keifer and Frank Rivera, of the Story County Public Defenders Office, will represent Runyan.

District Court Judge Timothy Finn will preside at the trial.

The trial is expected to last through this week, and possibly into next week.

The Daily will have complete coverage of the Veishea murder trial each day.