AUSTIN, Texas – The trial began Monday 20-year-old accused of killing University of Texas student Haruka Weiser two years ago.

Weiser was killed the night of April 3, 2016, while walking home from dance practice on campus. She was found strangled and sexually assaulted 100 feet away from her dorm room.

The suspect, homeless teen Meechaiel Criner, is on trial for capital murder. Criner sat facing more than 75 potential jurors Monday as attorneys questioned them for more than eight hours. Several of them admitted they knew about a murder on the University of Texas at Austin campus. However, they could not decipher between Weiser's death and another one a year later involving a different suspect. 

If Criner is convicted, he will spend the rest of his life in prison. State law prevents people convicted of capital murder from being sentenced to death if they are under the age of 18; Criner was 17 when Weiser died. Earlier this month, Criner's lawyers tried to reduce his possible sentence to five to 99 years in prison, but they were denied by the judge.

Most of the case pivots on the evidence found in Criner’s possession when he was captured; including Weiser’s duffel bag. The suspect was arrested after he was captured on surveillance video near Waller Creek where Weiser’s body was discovered.

The trial isn't expected to last very long. State prosecutors said, after tossing out DNA evidence because of procedural errors, the trial should only take two weeks. The judge said Monday he wants the trial to conclude within two weeks.

People close to Weiser, including the UT community, are still reeling from her death. UT Austin created a fund in Weiser's memory.