Jury selection under way in militia trial

DETROIT, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of eight men accused of belonging to a Michigan militia group allegedly preparing for battle against the Antichrist.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts hopes to have a panel of 50 qualified jurors by Friday, the Detroit Free Press reported. Prosecutors and defense lawyers can then exercise peremptory challenges to get the required panel of 12.

Jurors excused for cause Tuesday included a former exterminator who uses medical marijuana and a woman who said flatly she believes the defendants are guilty. Those who remained in the pool included a woman who set fire to her ex-husband's house when he was accused of selling their daughter and a black woman minister who thinks gun ownership should be restricted.

"We don't want crazy people walking around with guns," the minister said.

Members of the Hutaree militia allegedly believe government forces, including police and the military, will be on the side of the Antichrist in the coming apocalyptic battle. One former defendant, Joshua Clough, 29, of Blissfield pleaded guilty to a weapons charge and is expected to testify for the prosecution in a trial scheduled to last six to eight weeks.