As jury selection began Tuesday in the retrial of Joaquin Martinez, the state attorney's office in Hillsborough County announced it would not seek the death penalty.

Martinez was condemned for the murder of Sherrie Coy-Ward, who was shot once and stabbed 23 times in her Tampa home in October 1995.

He was sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, Douglas Lawson.

In June 2000, the Florida Supreme Court overturned the conviction and ordered a new trial for Martinez.

The main problem was the lead police investigator in the case told jurors he had no doubt Martinez was guilty.

And, in a case where no physical evidence linked Martinez to the crime, the state's high court ruled the error was serious enough to require the conviction be vacated.

It was not immediately known why prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty in the retrial.

In Spain, Martinez's case has been front page news.

Dozens of reporters and camera crews are in Tampa this week covering the new trial, and Spanish government officials are expected to attend the proceedings today.