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Attempted Murder Trial Begins For Alleged 'Walker' Assailants

By HERNANDO TODAY STAFF

Hernando Today

Published: April 6, 2009

Updated: 04/06/2009 07:02 pm

BROOKSVILLE - Attorneys had no problem Monday morning finding jury members for the attempted murder trials of two men charged with robbing and beating John Kelly, the man known as "the walker" for his daily journeys along Hernando's roadways.
The attorneys picked two juries, one each for the trial of Michael Vann, 23, and 17-year-old Jamie Lynn Tyson, in the Lake County Courthouse in Tavares. Hernando Circuit Judge Stephen Rushing moved the trial there to find a jury pool that had been untainted by extensive local media coverage of the case.
Tyson's trial was slated to begin Monday afternoon with opening arguments. Vann's trial is expected to begin Wednesday morning. Rushing has said he hoped to have both trials wrapped up by the end of the week.
Tyson and Vann are accused of attacking Kelly, 50, on the night of Sept. 19, 2007, beating him on the shoulder of State Road 50 and robbing him of $100.
A third suspect, 17-year-old Anthony Hawkins, pleaded guilty in December 2007 and is expected to testify.