Trial to begin in salmonella outbreak at S. Ga. peanut plant

ALBANY, Ga. (AP) The trial for three people charged in a deadly salmonella outbreak traced to a southwest Georgia peanut plant five years ago is set to begin. <br /> <br /> Jury selection starts Monday in federal court in Albany in the trial of former Peanut Company of America owner Stewart Parnell; his brother and food broker, Michael Parnell; and the peanut plant's quality control manager, Mary Wilkerson. <br /> <br /> The Parnell brothers and Wilkerson were indicted last year on 76 criminal counts that accused them of shipping tainted peanuts to industrial food customers and covering up lab tests that showed some batches of nuts tested positive for salmonella. Stewart Parnell and Wilkerson were also charged with obstruction of justice. <br /> <br /> Georgia plant manager Samuel Lightsey was also charged and pleaded guilty in May to seven criminal counts. <br /> <br /> Nine people died and more than 700 were sickened as a result of the alleged cover-up.