First trial begins in murder of Calhoun County Teacher

The first of two trials is underway in an Anniston courtroom in the murder of a Wellborn school teacher.  Authorities believe Kevin Thompson was kidnapped from his home, robbed and murdered in the spring of 2011.  Suspects Nicholas Smith and Tyrone Thompson, who is not related to the victim, are both charged with capital murder and will be tried one at a time.  Most of Monday was set aside for jury selection in Smith's trial. He was arrested in Georgia and extradited back to Alabama.  Jury selection began last week and Monday jurors were questioned, one panel at a time. The two are accused of kidnapping Kevin Thompson from his Jacksonville home, killing him, and dumping his body just off Highway 278 in Cherokee County. They are also accused of using Thompson's debit card at various ATMs in east Alabama. There is no word yet on how long Smith's trial will last, and Thompson's trial date has not yet been set.