Myles Stout

Attorneys completed jury selection today in the murder trial of Myles Stout today.

A jury of 10 men and four women will hear the case starting Wednesday morning before Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman.

This morning, Lance Pope asked jurors if they own guns, what type of training they've had and what types of weapons they've handled.

When asked why he takes multiple safety steps before firing a handgun one juror replied: "I have tremendous respect for weapons and the damage they can do and I don't take it lightly."

The questions could prove crucial in jury selection, which began this morning in the second-degree murder trial of the 21-year-old Stout.

Stout's defense in the March 9, 2011 shooting death of Myles Compton, 18, is that the incident was an accident and he did not know the weapon was loaded. He faces charges of reckless homicide and reckless endangerment along with the murder charge.

Police and witnesses say Stout shot Compton in the chest at a March 2011 gathering in the home of Kevin Driscoll.

Compton's family has filed a separate $10 million civil lawsuit against Stout, Driscoll and Driscoll's parents, Jerry and Patricia, who own the gun and allegedly allowed minors to drink in their home before the shooting.

Previous testimony described a scene in which Kevin Driscoll showed Compton two unloaded handguns. He said he heard Stout load one of the guns, then saw him point it at several people before pushing the 9 mm pistol's barrel into Compton's chest and firing.

The trial is expected to last into next week, according to attorneys.

For more see tomorrow's Times Free Press