St. Louis Park Teen Has First Day in Court

Prosecutors want to prove he killed two store clerks for attention. The defense wants to prove he isn't mentally fit to determine right from wrong.

And so began the trial for Michael Richard Swanson, the 18-year-old from St. Louis Park last November during two separate robbery attempts.

KSTP-TV reports that jury selection wrapped up Monday before both sides made their opening statements. According to the Des Moines Register, prosecutors plan on showing a video to the jury in which Swanson told police he felt "powerful" and "good" right after the alleged murders.

The newspaper reports that the defense will try to prove that the teenager has never known right from wrong. This will include testimony from Swanson's mother about the various doctors and medications she tried for her son.

The trial is expected to resume Tuesday at 9 a.m. Swanson will also stand trial in Lyon County, Iowa, later this summer.