Jury selection in manslaughter trial of former Cowboy Brent begins

DALLAS, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Jury selection in the intoxication manslaughter case of former Dallas Cowboy Josh Brent began Thursday, with testimony expected to begin Monday.

Attorneys are choosing jurors from a pool of 120, twice the normal amount. Several potential jurors were excused after they said intense media coverage of the case influenced their opinion of its outcome, WFAA-TV, Dallas, reported.

Brent, 25, is accused of driving drunk and crashing his car in December 2012, which led to the death of teammate and passenger Jerry Brown Jr.

Brent's blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was .189, more than twice the legal limit. He was driving at least 110 mph that evening, a police report said.

He was indicted for both intoxication manslaughter and manslaughter. The second charge allows the jury to convict him in Brown's death, even if it finds he was not intoxicated. If convicted, Brent could face 20 years in prison, the Dallas Morning News reported.