UPDATE: John Couey trial to be held in Miami

By: Sara Dorsey

Update:

Tampa Florida - A year-and-a-half after 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford disappeared from her bed and found murdered, her alleged killer John Couey still waits for a trial, living a life Jessica's Father Mark considers a waste.

Mark Lunsford, Jessica's Father

"I hate him more now than I did then. I hate him now, more now because he got to live a little longer."

In July the court came up short during jury selection, despite having two thousand potential jurors to choose from. Tuesday, the court announced it will try again, this time in Miami Dade County, which court officials say will give them an endless selection of jurors. Lunsford hopes it is far enough away from where his terrible tragedy unfolded.

Mark Lunsford, Jessica's Father

"Everyone heard about it, but they went back to their normal lives too. They didn't spend everyday trying to figure out what was going to happen next in Jessie's case."

Jury selection is set for February 12^th, twelve days before the second anniversary of Jessica's disappearance. The court says the date is a scheduling coincidence, but Lunsford says if a jury comes back with a guilty verdict and death penalty it couldn't come at a better time.

Mark Lunsford, Jessica's Father:

“It's justice for Jessie and if they want to do it in February, well then, I think it's a good reminder she was gone that month and the person paid for it that month.”

In the meantime Mark Lunsford waits, focusing on finding other missing children and his crusade to toughen laws nationwide against sex offenders.

Mark Lunsford, Jessica's Father:

“I can't do anything to save my daughter, but I'll be damned if I'll let somebody hurt another child. I'll do everything I can to keep that from happening.”

A second try at a judgment day for John Couey is now only five months away. It's a day that could forever seal his place in history. Prosecutors won't speculate how long it could take to seat a jury, but once it happens they say the trial will likely take two weeks.

Citrus County, Florida - He's accused of murdering 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, today we've learned John Couey's murder trial will be moved to Miami-Dade County.

The trial will be held at the Gerstein Justice center and jury selection will begin February 12, 2007.

Pre-trial hearings will still be held in Citrus county.

Jury selection in Lake County was abandoned in July, because after three days an unbiased jury could not be seated.

Couey has pleaded not guilty to the charges.