Jury selection is underway this morning in a Jasper County murder trial. 64-year-old Hubert Lawrence Hardesty is accused in the slaying of 60-year-old Linda McQuerrey (muh-KWEER-ee), both of Des Moines. Authorities say McQuerrey’s body was found at a Jasper County park the night of June 19th, 2004, within an hour of her death. Court documents say she suffered multiple cutting and stab wounds to her head and neck, wounds inflicted with a knife or other sharp object. Prosecutors claim Hardesty admitted having an on-going sexual relationship with McQuerrey despite the fact he’s married. Neighbors reportedly saw McQuerrey getting into a vehicle that matches the description of Hardesty’s vehicle the night of her death. The same car was also spotted at the park shortly before the body was discovered. The trial’s expected to last three weeks.
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