Jury seated in trial of man accused in officer's killing

Jurors were chosen late Tuesday, following two days of jury selection. Four will serve as alternates.

But defense lawyers for Siaosi Vanisi said they plan to protest the panel and seek to move the trial elsewhere.

"There are still people on there who think he's guilty," said Public Defender Mike Specchio.

Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer was to consider Speccio's objection before the start of trial today.

Vanisi faces a possible death sentence if convicted of the Jan. 13, 1998 killing of UNR Police Sgt. George Sullivan, a husband and father of five.

Prosecutors contend Vanisi set out that night with the intent to kill a police officer.

District Attorney Dick Gammick has said Vanisi, who is from Southern California, was visiting relatives in Reno and told people he was going to kill a policeman.

Authorities allege the defendant approached Sullivan, who was sitting in his patrol car near the campus entrance around 1 a.m., and attacked him when he got out of the car.

A passerby found the officer face down beside the patrol car minutes later and called police.

Gammick contends Vanisi used the officer's weapon to rob two convenience stores afterwards and later bragged about the killing.

The killing touched off a manhunt unprecedented in Reno history. Vanisi was arrested the next day in Salt Lake City following a 3 1/2 -hour standoff with authorities that ended with tear gas and gunfire.

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