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Opening statements expected for trial in 1979 slaying

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February 12th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Opening statements are expected today (Wednesday), in the trial of a man charged with killing a high school girl in Iowa more than 40 years ago. Jury selection was completed Tuesday for the trial of 66-year-old Jerry Burns, of Manchester. He’s accused of fatally stabbing 18-year-old Michelle Martinko on Dec. 19, 1979, in Cedar Rapids. Her body was found the next day inside her family’s car at a Cedar Rapids mall. The trial was moved to Scott County District Court in Davenport because of pretrial publicity in Cedar Rapids. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.