Jury selection began Tuesday in Superior Court in the case of Miguel A. "Mikey" Vega, who will be tried a second time, beginning Jan. 5, for the 2010 shooting death of Rahmel Perry in New London.

Vega's first murder trial ended with a mistrial in February 2015 after a 12-member jury announced after four days of deliberation that it was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. 

The 32-year-old New London man is accused of forcing entry into an apartment at 53 Prest St., New London, with an unidentified accomplice on March 3, 2010, and opening fire with a gun.

Perry, 21, died of gunshot wounds and his friend Michael Ellis Jr. suffered life-threatening injuries.

In taking his case to trial, Vega rejected an offer to plead guilty in exchange for a 35-year prison sentence.

He is being held in lieu of $2,075,000 at the Northern Correctional Institution.

Vegawas arrested in Georgia three months after the the homicide and extradited to Connecticut to face charges of murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, home invasion, first-degree assault and criminal possession of a firearm.

State's attorney Michael L. Regan is prosecuting the case.

Vega is being represented by a new attorney, Robert F. Kappes, after his relationship with his previous attorney, John E. Franckling, broke down.

Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed will be presiding at the trial, which is expected to last two to three weeks.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN