MADISONVILLE-The trial of Jessica Kennedy, 29, in the July 2010 death of Sweetwater businessman and Election Commission Chairman Jim Miller had barely gotten started Tuesday before Judge Walter Kurtz had to send the jury out and listen to two women testify a witness was threatening other witnesses.

Kennedy has been in jail for nearly two years and after several aborted attempts, her trial started Tuesday morning. Assistant District Attorney Jim Stutts opened the trial by telling the jury he would present proof that Kennedy willingly took part in the killing of Miller and that she continued to provide intimate details of the killing that she couldn't have known unless she was there.

Defense attorney John Eldridge called it a case of "powerlessness," saying Kennedy had been left in a small visitors cell at the Monroe County Jail where her ex-boyfriend Brandon Steele harassed and threatened her. Eldridge said she was constantly interviewed by room fulls of intimidating law enforcement officers and she finally gave them what they wanted (a confession) so she could get out of the Monroe County Jail and be sent to Meigs County.

See full story in the Wednesday, August 15, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.