COLUMBUS, Ind. (AP) – A murder trial has begun for a 57-year-old man accused of killing four people at a Waynesville home nearly two years ago.

Samuel Earl Sallee of Columbus is charged with four counts of murder in the May 2013 shooting deaths of 53-year-old Katheryn Burton, her 39-year-old boyfriend, Thomas Smith, and two friends, Aaron Cross and Shawn Burton, both 41-year-old Columbus residents.

The trial for Sallee began Monday morning in Bartholomew Circuit Court and is expected to last until at least March 2. Former Sheriff Mark Gorbett tells The (Columbus) Republic the prosecution likely will call 40 to 50 witnesses to the stand. 

Defense attorney David Nowak says his client may testify in his own defense.