Two teenagers have pleaded not guilty to murdering Kildare schoolgirl Anastasia Kriegel in Co Dublin last May.
The 14-year-old boys were arraigned before the Central Criminal Court this afternoon, accused of murdering the schoolgirl at Glenwood House, Laraghcon, Clonee Road, Lucan on 14th May last year.
They each pleaded not guilty.
One of the boys was further charged with sexually assaulting the 14-year-old in a manner that involved serious violence to her.
He also pleaded not guilty to that count.
The accused teenagers cannot be named because they are minors.
Ms Kriegel’s body was discovered at Glenwood House three days after she was reported missing.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott has now begun empanelling a jury to hear the trial, which is due to last about six weeks.
The judge told the potential jurors that the case had been the subject of media attention, and they may have heard certain things in the media.
He told them that if there was any element they felt would prevent them being able to give an independent judgment on the case they should bring it to his attention.
And he said, they should not serve, if they had a firm or settled view that either of the accused was guilty.
The judge told them the details of the events would be upsetting and he warned them about the nature of the evidence.
He said the fact these events involved young people could make it more upsetting than other cases of this kind.
He said very serious offences were alleged against the two boys and the nature of the evidence was likely to cause upset.
The judge read out a list of almost 150 witnesses who are due to give evidence in this trial.
He warned the potential jurors that the accused were entitled as children to have their identity protected and warned that it was an offence to disclose their identities or any identifying details to anyone.
The case will resume tomorrow morning.
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