Juries being selected in two Wichita murder trials

Jury selection got under way Monday in Sedgwick County District Court in two Wichita murder cases, both of which have drug overtones.

In the first trial, Christopher Brown, 30, is charged in the July 9, 2012, death of Ronald Wilson, 34, who was shot in the head during a robbery in his home at the Interdale Apartments, 916 N. Broadway. At Brown’s first trial in August, a jury convicted him of robbery but was unable to reach a verdict on the murder charge. He is being tried in the courtroom of district Judge William Woolley.

In the other trail, Kyle Beltz, 22, is charged in the death of Ronald Betts, 33, who was shot in his home at 446 N. Emporia on April 18. Prosecutors said marijuana and growing equipment were found in Beltz’s home, and they said Betts had used the home to sell marijuana. That trial is being held in the courtroom of District Judge Greg Waller.

Both trials are expected to last most of the week.

This story was originally published December 9, 2013 at 8:31 PM with the headline "Juries being selected in two Wichita murder trials."