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June 18, 2008

Jury selection begins in murder trial of W. Warwick man

WARWICK -- Jury selection got underway today in the murder trial of a West Warwick man accused of beating and strangling a woman staying at his house in 2006.

Asked how he pleads, Brian Mlyniec, 45, said "absolutely not guilty" in court before Superior Court Judge Edwin C. Gale.

Mlyniec is charged with first-degree murder. A jury of 16 will be impaneled to hear the case. Selection is expected to take today and possibly run into tomorrow if necessary.

The Journal reported in 2006 that West Warwick firefighters discovered the body of Kelly Ann Anderson, 41, inside Mlyniec's home on the afternoon of June 23, 2006, after getting an anonymous call reporting a possible overdose. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene. She had injuries to her face, throat and neck.

Mlyniec denied slaying Anderson, according to a police affidavit, and told police the two had engaged in consensual, violent sexual activities that resulted in the bruises and bleeding.

The West Warwick police arrested Mlyniec after the state medical examiner finished an autopsy and reported that strangulation caused Anderson's death, Police Chief Peter T. Brousseau told the Journal in 2006.

Gale today said that opening statements from the prosecution and defense will not begin until Monday. He said he expected the case to be difficult, because of the graphic nature of some evidence.

The prosecution lists 15 potential witnesses -- people who may be called to testify and people who may be referenced during the trial. They are from the West Warwick police and fire departments, six civilians and a doctor from the state Office of Medical Examiners.

Thomas H. O'Brien is the lead prosecutor. Andrew A. Bucci is the defense lawyer for Mlyniec.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Talia Buford and Journal archival reports

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 12:11 PM | Permalink

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