The attorney for James Strahl wants a judge to move Strahl's murder retrial out of Union County in southeast South Dakota.

Defense attorney Phil Peterson says extensive media coverage of the case over a three-year period might prevent the seating of a fair and impartial jury. The prosecution resisted his motion.  The judge will decide the issue after reviewing a questionnaire to be completed by prospective jurors.

Strahl was convicted two years ago of killing William O'Hare at a rural Beresford home in 1998. The state Supreme Court later upheld a judge's decision ordering a new trial after it was discovered that a prosecution witness against Strahl had lied in an unrelated criminal case.