MURRIETA - A jury was impaneled today for the trial of a 40-year-old Lake Elsinore man accused of killing an acquaintance and dumping his body near Anza five years ago.

Opening statements are scheduled for Monday morning in the case of Joseph Edward Butler, who is accused of killing 36-year-old Scott Allan Murphy, whose body was found on Nov. 26, 2004.

Murphy died of blunt force trauma, according to the county coroner's office.

Investigators believe the defendant killed Murphy at his home, possibly after catching the victim fondling himself outside the bedroom door of Butler's daughter.

A judge on Tuesday ordered that no mention be made during the trial of the fact that Murphy was a sex offender. But the ruling was made without prejudice, meaning a case can still be made to introduce the evidence.

While awaiting trial on the murder count, Butler was charged with possession of drugs and paraphernalia while in jail in April 2008, and last March, with assault with a deadly weapon and destruction of jail property.

Butler was housed in the B Pod at the Southwest Justice Center and was cleaning the dayroom when he allegedly smashed the window of one of the cells with a push broom, trying to hit another inmate, who suffered cuts to his face

from the broken glass, according Advertisement

[ Chatton and Associates ] to papers filed with the court.

Butler is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Jury selection under way in trial of Lake Elsinore man accused of killing man and dumping his body

MURRIETA - Jury selection got under way today for the trial of a 40-year-old Lake Elsinore man accused of killing an acquaintance and dumping his body near Anza five years ago.

Joseph Edward Butler is accused of killing Scott Allan Murphy, 36, whose body was found on Nov. 26, 2004.

Murphy died of blunt force trauma, according to the county coroner's office.

Investigators believe the defendant killed Murphy at his home, possibly after catching the victim fondling himself outside the bedroom door of Butler's daughter.

A judge on Tuesday ordered -- without prejudice -- that no mention be made during the trial of the fact that Murphy was a sex offender.

Without prejudice means that the matter can be brought up for consideration at a later date and a case be made to introduce the evidence.

While in custody awaiting trial on the murder count, Butler was charged with possession of drugs and paraphernalia while in jail in April 2008, and last March, with assault with a deadly weapon and destruction of jail property.

Butler is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.