Jury chosen for Pratt trial

A 14-member jury was seated at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the opening day of the trial of Christopher Luke Pratt of Marshall on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, interfering with telecommunications device (telephone), domestic violence and unlawful imprisonment for incidents that allegedly occurred in his 15 1/2 Mile Road home in June. After a 9 a.m. motion hearing on whether to allow prior acts evidence, Pratt's ex wife Su Harrington and the victim in this case, Norrene Parker, testified about their alleged abuse by Pratt. The prior acts will be allowed during the trial which gets underway with opening arguments Wednesday at 9 a.m. by defense attorney Thomas Schaeffer and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Dan Buscher. Pratt is also scheduled for a separate trial Dec. 4 on third degree criminal sexual conduct. And, though he has not been charged with a crime in connection to her disappearance, Pratt was the fiance of missing Marshall woman Mary Denise Marshall Lands who has not been seen since she allegedly argued with Pratt in their Marshall home March 12, 2004.(c)Marshall Chronicle