Shepard, a 21-year-old University of Wyoming student, died in a hospital five days later on Oct. 12, 1998.

Lawyers began questioning the first group of 64 potential jurors at the Albany County Courthouse in Laramie, Wyo. Jury selection could take two weeks to whittle an estimated 250 potential jurors down to 12 jurors and four alternates.

The other suspect, Russell Henderson, pleaded guilty to murder and kidnapping in April and was sentenced to two life terms. Henderson was expected to testify at the trial.

McKinney is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated battery and could face the death penalty if convicted.

About 600 people, including several hundred University of Wyoming students, held a candlelight vigil on the campus Sunday night for Shepard, who was robbed, pistol whipped, tied to a fence post and left to die.

About 1,900 people attended a sold-out memorial concert by folk singers Peter, Paul and Mary at the student union and some 200 students signed yellow posters pledging to work to end violence and hate.

``We learned a lot about ourselves,'' said university President Philip Dubois. ``We learned how important it was for our community to speak with one voice in rejecting violence and hate.''