Jury selection is still not completed following the first day of the Harold “Uri” Sellers murder trial on Tuesday at the Story County Courthouse in Nevada.

District Court Judge Timothy Finn, who is presiding over the trial, said he anticipated jury selection to be completed Wednesday afternoon.

Following the selection of the 12 member jury, opening statements will be given and the first witness may be called to the stand.

Michael Runyan, 20, Fort Dodge, is charged with first-degree murder, which has a penalty of imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole.

The state, represented by assistant Story County attorney’s Stephen Holmes and Angelina Smith, alleges Runyan, while attending Veishea festivities on April 20 argued with Sellers on the front lawn of the Adelante fraternity house, 318 Welch Ave.

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

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

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

Defense attorney’s Julia Keifer and Frank Rivera said Runyan has entered a plea of not guilty and they plan to argue self-defense.

During the jury selection, potential jurors were asked individual questions in a private room.

Present during these precedings was the defense, the state, the clerk of court, Judge Finn, a member of the Story County Sherrif’s department, Runyan and members of the media.

The majority of the questions asked by the defense during the private session were based on what the potential jurors knew about the case from the media, what their opinion was and if they felt they could put aside their prejudices about the case and make an honest decision based solely on the evidence given during the trial.

Many potential jurors could not make that promise.

One potential juror said from what she has seen in newspapers and on TV, she felt she could only render a guilty verdict.

Another potential juror said she didn’t see how the murder could be self-defense when the alleged “leaves and goes to get a knife.”

Another potential juror questioned the whole aspect of Veishea and what is at stake in the case including, “a young man’s life and the family that’s had a loss.”

The state asked potential jurors questions pertaining to the Veishea celebration including how or if they were connected to the event and if they had any overriding feelings about Veishea.

One potential juror said he attended a party the night before the murder at the Adelante fraternity house. He told the attorney’s he talked to individuals who were there the night of the murder but did not receive any information from those individuals that would lead him to believe the accused was guilty.

Another potential juror said she would feel terrible if Veishea suffered because of the verdict.

She said the murder should remain separate from Veishea and that she could not serve on the jury and remain impartial.

John Wacker, professor of management at Iowa State, was one of the potential jurors asked if he had opinions about Veishea. He said Veishea has become less like a showcase of ISU and more like a party.

“Veishea was once known as an academic event and I think it has escalated into something else and I am not very happy about it,” he said.

Following the individual questions, potential jurors where then seated in the courtroom and the state continued the process of jury selection.

The state said Harold Sellers, father of the slain victim, Steve Miller, an ISU student and Thomas Benett, Iowa’s State Medical Examiner will be among the individuals who will testify at the trial.

Holmes said potential jurors should keep an impartial opinion throughout the trial.

“This is a very serious case,” Holmes said. “Your job is to listen to the facts and render a verdict.”

Judge Finn ordered all potential jurors not to talk about the case with friends and family and to refrain from reading, listening and watching news related to the trial.

The trial is expected to continue into next week.