Tuesday the courts will focus on opening statements as Rios has a new attorney representing him, Moberly lawyer Gillis Leonard. On Monday attorneys chose 12 jurors from Clay County, while the Missouri Supreme Court selected Judge Frank Conley to preside over the retrial.

The former Columbia police officer has been behind bars since 2005 for the murder of MU student Jesse Valencia. Rios met Valencia at a party in 2004. On June 5, 2004 Valencia's throat was slashed near his  apartment. Police suspected Rios after discovering he and Valencia had an alleged affair.

In 2005, the courts convicted Rios of murdering Valenica and sentenced him for life without parole.

In 2007, an appellate court said testimony from Valencia's friend Joan Sheridan should not have been used opening the case again for a retrial.