Murder trial begins for the man accused of killing Ark. TV anchor, Anne Pressly

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In this June 26, 2008 file photo released by KATV Television, of news anchor Anne Pressly in Little Rock, Ark. Jury selection is scheduled to get under way Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, in Little Rock in the trial of the man accused of killing Pressly. (AP Photo/KATV Television)
In an Oct. 23, 2009, file photo Curtis Lavelle Vance, accused in the 2008 beating death of a television anchorwoman, waits for the start of a hearing at the Pulaski County Court House in Little Rock, Ark. Jury selection is scheduled to get under way Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 in Little Rock in the trial o (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

AP
Published: November 2, 2009

A man accused of killing a popular Arkansas television personality is going on trial.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in Little Rock in the trial of Curtis Lavelle Vance. He has pleaded not guilty to capital murder, rape and burglary.

KATV-Little Rock anchorwoman Anne Pressly was found brutally beaten in her bed in October 2008. She died days later without regaining consciousness.

Prosecutors say they plan to use DNA evidence and taped confessions from Vance.

Defense lawyers say police coerced Vance into providing a DNA sample before his arrest. Vance said he was confused by “police trickery.“

Vance is from Marianna, about 100 miles east of Little Rock. He could face the death penalty if convicted.