The third trial of a Center Township man accused of murdering his wife got underway Tuesday in Valparaiso with jury selection.
Jury selection was still ongoing as of Tuesday afternoon, but court officials expected it to continue for the day until a full jury of 12 jurors and two alternates were seated.
Opening statements were expected to start Wednesday morning.
Steven Lindsey, 36, has already stood trial twice in the case, but both ended in mistrials. The first trial, which took place in September, ended after the jury was selected but before testimony began when a woman came forward claiming someone else had claimed responsibility for killing Melinda Kirby Lindsey, 23, on Jan. 16, 2015.
However, prosecutors said that person had an airtight alibi, and the second trial against Lindsey proceeded in November. That trial ended after the jury could not reach an agreement on a verdict.
Porter County prosecutors argued during the November trial that Lindsey wanted a $1.1 million life insurance policy his wife had taken out and that he staged several attempted stalkings just before he killed his wife.
However, Lindsey has maintained his innocence, claiming someone broke into their house, put him in a chokehold until he passed out and then tied him up before killing his wife.
The trial is expected to last about a month this time.
