SOME MIGHT WANT TO THINK OF IT AS IRONIC, BUT AFTER WAITING NEARLY FIVE YEARS FOR THE TRIAL TO BEGIN – THE HOWARD HAWK WILLIS MURDER CASE IN JONESBORO HAS REACHED YET ANOTHER IMPASS. A JURY COULD NOT BE SEATED TODAY, SO JUDGE LYNN BROWN HAS STOPPED PROCEEDNGS FOR THE MOMENT. WILLIS IS ACCUSED OF KILLING A TEEN COUPLE IN JOHNSON CITY. HE’S FACING THREE COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND THREE COUNTS OF ABUSE OF A CORPSE. WILLIS IS ACCUSED IN THE DISMEMBERMENT DEATHS OF 17 YEAR OLD ADAM CHRISMER AND HIS WIFE, 16 YEAR OLD SAMANTHA LEMING. THEIR BODIES WERE FOUND IN CONTAINERS AT A DOWNTOWN STORAGE WAREHOUSE IN OCTOBER 2002. WILLIS IS ALSO CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF HIS STEPFATHER, SAM THOMAS, WHOSE HEAD WAS FOUND IN WINGED DEER PARK. JUDGE BROWN SAYS THERE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE – EITHER TRY TO SEAT A JURY FROM OUT OF THE AREA, OR CONSIDER MOVING THE TRIAL TO ANOTHER LOCATION. THE STATE IS SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY IF WILLIS IS CONVICTED. THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT THREE WEEKS, WHEN IT IS RESUMED. A HEARING ON HOW TO PROCEED IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER