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Charles Pona murder trial underway

Pona is accused of killing teenage witness

Updated: Thursday, 08 Apr 2010, 4:33 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 08 Apr 2010, 4:32 PM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The re-trial of a Providence man accused of killing a teenage girl, so she would not testify against him in another murder case, is underway.

Jury selection in the murder trial of Charles Pona started Wednesday.

Prosecutors say Pona and two accomplices killed 15-year-old Jennifer Rivera in May 2000, the day before his trial for another slaying was to begin. He was still convicted in that case.

Pona was convicted of Rivera's death in 2003, but the state Supreme Court overturned the verdict in 2008, saying the trial judge erred in allowing too much evidence about the other slaying.

The case led to an extensive overhaul of Rhode Island's witness protection program.

Pona's lawyer says everyone feels sorry for what happened to Rivera.

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