Jury selection began Tuesday in the murder trial of Luke Wirkkala, accused in the shooting death of a houseguest last year during an altercation in Wirkkala’s home.

More than 50 potential jurors filed into Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Forte’s courtroom at 9 a.m. After more than five hours of questioning, prosecutors and defense attorneys chose eight men and six woman for the jury panel. Of those, 12 will be jurors and two will be alternates. Deputy District Attorney Mary Anderson said attorneys didn’t tell the group who are jurors and who are alternates.

Wirkkala, 33, is charged with murder in the death of 31-year-old David Ryder of Bend early Feb. 4, 2013.

Police arrested Wirkkala around 2:30 a.m. at his home in the 20000 block of Will Scarlet Lane in southeast Bend after arriving and finding Ryder dead of a gunshot wound.

Wirkkala allegedly fired one round from a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. Ryder and Wirkkala were acquaintances, and police say Ryder was visiting the home as Wirkkala’s guest.

Wirkkala sat with his attorneys, Salem-based Walter Todd and Joel Wirtz, a Bend public defender. The defendant wore a suit and tie and was cleanshaven with a shorter, more conservative haircut than he wore at the time of the shooting.

Wirtz asked prospective jurors about their opinions on gun ownership, self-defense and Miranda rights.

Anderson, who is prosecuting the case with Deputy District Attorney Kandy Gies, asked potential jurors their opinions on alcohol consumption as an excuse for committing crimes, and about homosexuality and potential witness bias.

Forte swore in the jurors and alternates, instructing them to avoid talking about the case with anyone and telling them not to read anything or watch anything on the news about the case.

The trial is scheduled to continue today with opening statements from the prosecution and the defense. The prosecution will then begin calling witnesses.

— Reporter: 541-383-0376, sking@bendbulletin.com