Jury selection begins for woman accused of killing husband, burying him in Clermont backyard

This browser does not support the video element.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Jury selection begins Monday in the trial of a Clermont woman accused of killing her husband.

WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

Investigators say Laurie Shaver buried her husband’s body under a backyard fire pit and then pretended he was still alive to his family and friends.

The trial is expected to be a complicated one.

It took three years for law enforcement to get involved in the case. And Shaver’s team claims that her then-7-year-old daughter pulled the trigger.

READ: SpaceX announces new target date for Polaris Dawn mission

Shaver was arrested five years after husband Michael’s disappearance in 2015.

For three years, Michael was simply missing — presumed to be living a new life with a new woman.

But a search in the couple’s Clermont back yard revealed an arm bone — and then the rest of Michael Shaver.

Michael Shaver has been missing for three years. (Photo: Lake County Sheriff's Department)

Laurie Shaver will go on trial facing accusations she shot him, drained his bank accounts, and sold the gun and his possessions — all while pretending to be him.

In recent weeks, the two teams of lawyers have argued over what the jury would and wouldn’t be allowed to hear about the couple’s life as the state presents as many as 100 witnesses.

PREVIOUS: Lawyers for woman accused of killing, burying husband want evidence excluded

Their story will have to overcome a claim that Shaver’s now-teenage daughter was the actual shooter, pulling the trigger to protect her mother from abuse when she was just seven years old.

Shaver’s daughter is expected to testify.

Prosecutors said they expect it will take a week to get through all their witnesses.

READ: Thursday: MCPS to hold first community meeting on school rezoning

Channel 9′s Nick Papantonis will be in the courtroom throughout the trial to bring you every detail.

Watch Eyewitness News and monitor WFTV.com for updates to this story.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.