Waterloo Man Faces Death Possible Penalty in 2006 Case

David Damm is escorted into the courtroom in Waterloo, Iowa, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2006, for an extradition hearing to face murder charges in Illinois for the death of 13-year-old Donnisha Hill of Waterloo whose body was found near Hanover, Ill., in October. Damm, 59, was charged with one count of solicitation of murder and two counts of first-degree murder, according to Jo Daviess County State's Attorney Terry Kurt. (AP Photo/The Courier, Brandon Pollock)

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By KCRG Intern

Story Created: Sep 15, 2008 at 8:49 AM CST

Story Updated: Sep 15, 2008 at 10:20 AM CST

GALENA, Ill. (AP) - Jury selection in the murder trial of a Waterloo man charged with paying a hit man to kill his 13-year-old neighbor begins Monday morning.

David Damm faces the death penalty if convicted of orchestrating the beating death of Donnisha Hill in October 2006. He is accused of paying Bruce Burt to drive her to Illinois and kill her to cover up allegations of sexual abuse.

Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty in Burt's case, but say they will accept life in prison if Burt testifies truthfully against Damm.

Potential jurors arrived at the Illinois courthouse on Friday to fill out a 21-page questionnaire that asks about their knowledge of the case. Attorneys reviewed their answers over the weekend.

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