The first day of the Wayne Oxley murder trial started late Friday afternoon after four alternate jurors were picked.

Oxley faces second degree murder charges in the beating death of his neighbor Bernard Trickey.

In the opening statement, prosecutors said Oxley used a baseball bat he called "The Equalizer" to kill Trickey. But, the defense said DNA from one of Oxley's neighbors, John Shannon, had been found on the bat.

"It was quite important to let the jury know there are facts the prosecutor has denied all along that will be shown on the defense case. No obligation for the defense to do it," said Defense Attorney Richard Manning.

Shannon, a key witness in the case, was found dead one month after the murder in his burning home. The murder trial will continue Wednesday.