Lawyers from both sides of the Ryan Barry murder case are questioning prospective jurors in open court Wednesday morning in an attempt to seat a jury and get to opening statements in the long-awaited first-degree murder trial.

Barry, 27, is charged with fatally shooting Sergio Libman, 43, at Libman's home in Boulder's Steelyards neighborhood in October 2006. Barry killed Libman after attempting to steal his car, according to police.

Prosecutor Catrina Weigel spent part of the morning questioning 14 people gathered in the jury box out of more than 70 potential jurors present in the courtroom, asking them how they felt about circumstantial evidence, testimony from witnesses who have been offered a plea deal by prosecutors, and whether drinking absolves someone of guilt for a crime committed.

Defense attorney Peter Hedeen asked the prospective jurors how they felt about the credibility of police officers, their attitudes toward guns, and whether they felt they could be fair in a trial with such a serious charge.

So far, about half a dozen potential jurors have been dismissed and replaced.

The lawyers do not have to state why they want a potential juror dismissed.