Graphic images of dead people flashed across courtroom televisions as the victims' families looked on, weeping and consoling one another. Some had to leave to collect themselves.

For the first time since the nine victims were killed in 2005 and 2006, the man accused of the crimes is on trial for murder. The prosecution and defense delivered their dramatic opening statements Monday in the trial against Mark Goudeau, who is accused of being the so-called Baseline Killer.

Goudeau, 46, is also accused of dozens of other crimes, including rape and child molestation. His trial is expected to last nine months, with testimony resuming Tuesday.

Goudeau has pleaded not guilty. If convicted of murder, he could face the death penalty.

Prosecutor Suzanne Cohen told jurors that Goudeau was driven by a hunger to rape, and the victims who didn't cooperate were shot point-blank in the head.

"Beware of the predator that comes to you wrapped in sheep's clothing because he is a ravenous wolf," Cohen said. "Mark Goudeau is that ravenous wolf, and you shall know him by his deeds."

Cohen said "the only thing that matched his hunger to rape was his determination to not get caught and not be sitting in this chair."

"Those innocents did nothing wrong but cross his path while he was hunting," she said.

In his opening statement, defense attorney Randall Craig said there was a serious lack of DNA evidence in the case, and he questioned the integrity of the investigation.

The Tucson shooting rampage suspect's lawyer says she's unable to provide discovery requested by prosecutors until her client is declared competent to stand trial.

In a Monday filing, defense attorney Judy Clark says the court's finding that Jared Lee Loughner is incompetent to stand trial makes it clear that she "cannot have rational or meaningful communication" with him.

She says she also cannot consult with him about any possible defenses or evidence that may be presented at trial until he is declared competent.

Judge Larry Burns ruled last month that Loughner is mentally unfit to assist his lawyers or understand the charges he faces.

Loughner has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the Jan. 8 Tucson mass shooting that killed six and injured 13, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

The Supreme Court says the family of a police chief convicted of extortion doesn't get attorney fees from his victim, another police chief.

The high court ruled Monday for Vinton, La. police chief Ricky Fox, who doesn't want to pay lawyer fees to the family of former chief Billy Ray Vice. Vice was convicted of extortion after threatening to reveal damaging information about Fox unless he dropped out of the police chief's election. Fox won the 2005 election.

Fox later sued Vice, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the lawsuit was frivolous and ordered Fox to pay Vice's attorney fees. A unanimous high court overturned that decision. Vice died last year.

Months after Illinois' new senator took office, the Supreme Court says it will not consider overturning the election of President Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate.

The high court on Monday turned away an appeal from former Illinois Sen. Roland Burris, who was appointed to the seat but did not get chance to run for a full term.

The justices also refused to hear an appeal from state officials who objected to a court order to hold a special election as well as a regular election for Obama's old seat

A former Vermont property manager admitted on Thursday that he's guilty of fraud in the collapse of a Montpelier company.

Sixty-four-year-old James Pumpelly, of Lake Charles, La., pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of fraud stemming from his work with Parkside Management and Rentals Co., which managed residential apartments in central Vermont on behalf of landlords.

Federal prosecutors say Pumpelly misappropriated tens of thousands of dollars in rent money - some of it federal rent subsidy money - that Parkside collected on behalf of the landlords, diverting it for his use and that of his ex-girlfriend, Julie Clemons.

Clemons, who owned Parkside Management, wasn't charged.

Sentencing was set for Oct. 11 in U.S. District Court in Brattleboro. He could get 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines on each count.