COEUR d'ALENE - A Benewah County man's murder trial for the Christmas day 2011 shooting death of his girlfriend in St. Maries has been moved to Kootenai County.

Joseph D. Herrera, 29, of St. Maries, is scheduled to be tried starting June 11. He's accused of deliberately shooting to death 18-year-old Stefanie A. Comack at his parents' home at 319 S. 14th St.

Herrera, who has been charged with second-degree murder, has pleaded not guilty and said Comack's death was an accident.

The trial was moved by 1st District Court Judge Fred M. Gibler after a jury couldn't be seated on March 12 from a pool of more than 100 potential jurors in Benewah County. Too many in that pool had connections to either the Herrera or Comack families or another link to the case.

Both families have been in the St. Maries community for many years.

Gibler decided to move the case during a hearing Friday at the Benewah County courthouse.

"Hopefully this will be good for everybody," defense attorney James Siebe said Monday.

Benewah County Prosecutor Doug Payne couldn't immediately be reached for comment.