DENVER -- A jury was in the process of being selected Tuesday that will determine the fate of an accused cop killer.

Opening statements in the Denver trial of Raul Gomez-Garcia could begin as early as Wednesday.

Gomez-Garcia is charged in the shootings of two Denver police officers, one of whom was killed. Donnie Young and Jack Bishop were shot on Mother's Day of 2005 and Young was killed.

Finding un-biased jurors may be prove to be a difficult task in the high-profile case.

Nearly everyone has heard about the shooting and the manhunt that followed.

Because of that, an extra large jury pool was called and questioning was conducted in private.

"There is huge emotion involved when a Denver police officer is killed," said legal analyst Craig Silverman.

Gomez-Garcia was in the United States illegally at the time of the murder. After being caught in Mexico, he was extradited on the condition that he will not face the death penalty.

"This case does set a precedent. Gomez-Garcia has benefited from running from the jurisdiction to his native Mexico," said Silverman.

Prosecutors, as well as Young's family, said they agreed that a trial on second-degree murder was better than no trial at all.

"I'm glad it's getting started," said Young's widow Kelly Young. "The sooner it gets started, the sooner it will be over."

The judge has ruled that the case can be televised.

During the preliminary hearing Young's partner, Bishop, himself injured, broke down as he recalled the frantic effort to save young's life.

"The Denver police are invested in a result," said Silverman. "So is the family and so is the whole community. After all Donny Young was out there representing us."

It is expected that the defense will argue that Gomez-Garcia's confession in Mexico was made under duress and should not be considered valid.

Jurors will also hear that after Young had allegedly thrown Gomez-Garcia out of that private party, he told his partner, "I shouldn't have grabbed him around the neck."