Laurean faces first-degree murder charges in the death of 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach of Vandalia, Ohio. She also was based at Camp Lejeune.
Lauterbach had accused Laurean of rape and of being the father of her unborn baby, a charged he denied to military investigators. A DNA test later revealed Laurean was not the father.
Starting Tuesday, it will be Onslow County District Attorney Dewey Hudson's job to explain Laurean's motives to a jury in Goldsboro. The trial was moved out of Jacksonville in January after a judge ruled that pretrial publicity could influence jurors.
A total of 20 potential jurors out of the initial pool of 50 have been excused and 30 jurors remain as of Tuesday.
So far, at least six have said they could not set aside what they've heard about the case and give Laurean a fair trial.
The potential jurors are done going through individual questioning from lawyers on both sides about their pre-trial publicity.
The jury selection will continue Wednesday with additional individual questioning.
Lawyers say the trial will last about two or three weeks.
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