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Trial for man accused of killing foster child, 3, to begin today

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Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)

Author: GARY L. SMITH

HENNEPIN - Opening statements are expected this afternoon in the Putnam County trial of a 28-year-old Granville man charged with murdering a 3-year-old foster child in his home nearly a year ago.

Six men and two women were seated Monday as jurors in the trial of Matthew Archer. Circuit Judge Scott Shore told them to return at 1:30 p.m. today, with the expectation that the other four jurors and two alternates would be selected during the morning.

Shore told jurors the trial would probably take all week.

Archer is accused of causing the death of Jordan Cain through blunt force injuries to her abdomen in late October 2003. She was a niece of the woman who was then his girlfriend and is now his wife, and had been placed in the couple's home by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Archer faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery of a child. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, but he would face 20 to 60 years on a murder conviction.

When Shore emphasized to one juror during questioning that she would have to concentrate on evidence and disregard small-town rumors about the case, she replied, "Living in Putnam County, you learn to do that, because there's so many rumors."

Two young women with 3-year-old daughters of their own were excused from jury service after saying they would find it hard to be impartial.

2004 Sep 28