Michael Schweitzer pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and attempted murder in a Stratford courtroom on Monday.

He is accused in the shooting death of 17-year-old Nicole Wagler and the shooting of his roommate Tyler Baker at a Milverton home in December 2012.

An 11-person jury was also selected Monday, with the trial set to begin Tuesday and as many as 20 witnesses expected to take the stand.

The accused is not likely to be among those testifying in the case.

Schweitzer's lawyer Philip Millar says, "I don't anticipate at this point him taking the stand, I think it's going to be a fascinating trial, I think what a lot of people think happened is going to come under a lot of scrutiny."

Schweitzer was 23 at the time of the shooting and has been behind bars since the incident.

His trial was supposed to begin in March 2015, but was pushed back nearly a year when his lawyers asked to be removed from the case.

Millar says, "It's been horrific for him, he's been in jail for two-and-a-half years...he's been looking forward to this trial to start so he can clear his name."

Wagler's family has vowed to be in court every day of the trial, which is expected to last as long as three weeks.

About $2,000 has been raised in the community to help offset the Wagler family's lost wages, gas and food costs so they can be in court everyday.

With files from CTV Kitchener