By RYAN CHRISTNER

Son of Terry Christner

The countdown to the Kenneth Wilson murder trial in Osborne County District Court has reached its final 24 hours as official proceedings are scheduled to begin Monday.

Wilson, a Salina man who was arrested in July following a parole violation, is charged with the premeditated first-degree murder of Portis resident Jeffery "Scott" Noel in March 2008, aggravated burglary of Noel's residence, burglary of a home in Downs and criminal possession of a firearm.

His trial has been scheduled to last two full weeks from Monday through May 22.

If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison.

Members of the Osborne County Sheriff's office will be present throughout the trial as a security precaution, performing checks of members of the public wishing to attend the hearing.

Seating in the first two rows of the courtroom has been reserved for media personnel and family of the victim and the defendant.

All remaining seating will be occupied on a first-come basis until it is filled.

Reserved seating that is left unoccupied then will be made available to the public.

Court will begin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday with jury selection. Subsequent days will start at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Noel's murder is one of the most violent crimes to have occurred in Osborne County in recent memory, and Sheriff Curtis Miner said residents are beyond ready for closure.

"We're hopefully just going to get his all behind us," he said.