The jury trial for an Annapolis man accused of carjacking and killing another Annapolis man in 2002 is set to begin today in federal court.

Jury selection concluded Monday, resetting a nearly 5-year-old case — on federal grounds — that pinballed through the state courts before reaching the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005.

Leeander Blake, 22, was 17 years old when Annapolis police charged him with carjacking and killing Straughan Lee Griffin, 51.

Griffin was unloading groceries from his Jeep Cherokee in September 2002 in front of his house in Annapolis’ historic district when his attackers shot him in the head and ran him over while they fled, according to court papers.

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Police arrested Terrence Tolbert, 24, who is serving a life sentence in connection with Griffin’s death, in October 2002. Tolbert implicated Blake, who told police he aided in the carjacking, but improprieties surrounding his interrogation led the Maryland Court of Appeals to rule his statements to Annapolis police inadmissible.

Police showed Blake a statement of charges with the penalty listed as “DEATH,” but at 17, Brown was ineligible for the death penalty, according to court papers.

After he had requested an attorney, an officer blurted out, “I bet you want to talk now, huh?” according to court papers.

The U.S. Supreme Court took no action on the case, effectively upholding the state high court’s ruling.

Federal prosecutors took up the case in 2006.

U.S. District Judge William Nickerson, who will oversee the trial today, admitted Brown’s statements in a motions hearing earlier this year.

Blake is charged in a federal indictment with carjacking resulting in death, conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a violent crime and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime resulting in death.

jpalazzolo@baltimoreexaminer.com