BEATRICE – A 12-member jury and three alternates have been selected for the trial in Gage County District Court of a Beatrice man charged with murder.

Jury selection began mid-morning on Monday and was completed Tuesday morning. 53-year-old Christopher Milke is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, kidnapping and tampering with evidence in the death of 53-year-old Tammy Leslie.

The victim, authorities say, was shot and killed inside a Hillcrest Avenue home in early September of 2024.

Court proceedings are scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, with opening trial statements possibly preceded by a hearing before Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner.

The judge denied a motion to continue the trial until a later date.