UPDATE: Opening statements underway in the third Villegas murder trial

Opening statements have begun for the third murder trial of an El Paso man accused of killing two teens in 1993.

Witnesses have been taking the stand all morning since the trial began.

Monday, a jury consisting of eight women and four men were selected for the trial of Daniel Villegas, who’s accused of the 1993 double murder.

Attorneys narrowed a list of 125 potential jurors to only 12.

ABC-7 was at the jury selection that took place in the 409th District Court. Villegas was present at the selection.

Villegas is accused of killing Bobby England and Armando Lazo. Villegas was 16 when England and Lazo died.

The trial was originally scheduled for July 9 but was delayed by Medrano, since Villegas and his wife were expecting the birth of their child.

Villegas’ attorney, Joe Spencer, told ABC-7 that the El Paso County District Attorney’s Office offered Villegas a plea deal, known as an Alford Plea, but he did not accept.

If Villegas had accepted the Alford Plea, Villegas would have pleaded guilty but would have been given credit for time served and would not face any additional charges.

“He’s been thinking about (the plea deal) ever since, but he’s been pretty strong in his opinion that he’s just not interested in pleading guilty to something he didn’t do,” said Villegas’ attorney, Joe Spencer.

“He’s pretty nervous especially with the offer they made and he rejected it and just wants to put this behind him and clear his name,” Spencer said.

Villegas’ first trial ended in a mistrial. In 1995, his second trial, he was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison.

His attorneys appealed the ruling and he was released from prison in 2014, after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a retrial.

ABC-7 will have complete coverage of this trial on-air and online.