Jury selection complete in Marshall case

ATLANTA, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A six-person jury was selected in Atlanta Thursday for the misdemeanor domestic violence trial of Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

The Denver Post reported four women and two men will hear the NFL player's case.

Marshall, 25, is facing criminal punishment and a possible suspension by the NFL if convicted on the misdemeanor battery charge in Georgia State Court.

Details regarding a possible criminal punishment for Marshall should he be convicted were not reported.

The wide receiver is accused of assaulting his then-girlfriend, Rasheedah Watley, on March 4, 2008, at the woman's Atlanta apartment.

The Post said Marshall has denied the allegations, stating he never touched Watley.

Attorney Harvey Steinberg, who is representing Marshall, attempted to portray the allegations as an attempt by Watley to get money from the professional football player.

"Was this a lottery ticket that was going to be lost?" Steinberg said during his opening statement Thursday, referring to letters from Watley's attorneys seeking payments of $100,000 and $500,000 from Marshall.

"Keep in mind who is on trial here. The defendant," Prosecuting attorney Robert Bembridge offered during his opening statement in response to the defense's claim.