The Chelsea Brooks Case    

THE STATE V. ROBINSON

• The trial: Elgin Ray Robinson Jr., 22, is charged with having sex with Chelsea Brooks, then planning and arranging her murder for hire. He could face the death penalty if convicted of capital murder.
• The charges: Capital murder (murder for hire), aggravated kidnapping, two counts of rape: sexual intercourse with a child under age 14 or aggravated indecent liberties with a child (sex with a girl between ages 14 and 16), and violating a protective order.
• The crime: Chelsea Brooks, 14 and nine months pregnant, had just completed eighth grade at Allison Middle School when she disappeared from Skate South, 1900 E. MacArthur, on June 9, 2006. Her body turned up six days later in a shallow grave in a wheat field on Mulberry Road in Butler County.
• The accomplice: Everett Gentry, then 17, pleaded guilty July 14, 2006, to murder. Because he was a juvenile, he avoided the death penalty. Now 19, he is the prosecution's key witness.
• Earlier this year: On May 23, a jury convicted Ted Burnett of strangling Brooks but could not later reach a unanimous decision on the death penalty. Burnett, 51, is serving life in prison without parole.
• Prosecutors: Deputy District Attorney Kevin O'Connor and Deputy District Attorney Marc Bennett represent the state of Kansas.
• For the defense: Val Wachtel and Paul Oller represent Robinson.
• The judge: Sedgwick County District Judge Ben Burgess is presiding.
• What's next? Jury selection begins Monday and is expected to last two weeks.