Jury selection in the second death penalty trial of Stephen Stanko is expected to begin Monday in Horry County.
Stanko — already on death row for the 2005 murder of his girlfriend, Laura Ling and the rape and attempted murder of her daughter — will stand trial starting next week for the alleged murder of 74-year-old Henry Lee Turner, who was found in his Conway home dead from a gunshot wound.
Solicitor Greg Hembree said the judge has already ruled on some of the major issues, such as deciding the jury will be sequestered during the trial.
Final pretrial motions were expected to be heard yesterday.
Hembree said jury qualifications will take place Friday then individual questioning of potential jurors will begin Monday.
That process should take about three days. Hembree said he expects opening arguments and the first witnesses to be called next Thursday, Nov. 12.
One thing the jury will not be allowed to hear about during the guilt or innocence portion of the trial is the details surrounding the death of Ling.
If Stanko is found guilty of killing Turner, a separate punishment trial will be held.
During that portion of the trial, the jury can hear about Ling’s murder and other past “bad deeds” committed by Stanko.
Stanko is being represented by Myrtle Beach attorney Bill Diggs, the same attorney who handled his case in 2006. He is being assisted by attorney Brana Williams.
The state alleges Stanko, after killing Ling in the Murrells Inlet home they shared, drove to Turner’s home and killed him and then stole his car to make his getaway.