Jury picked for man charged with home invasion

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - A jury has been selected for a man facing charges that he attempted to extort millions of dollars from philanthropist Anne H. Bass following a break-in at her Connecticut estate.

The jury was picked Tuesday in federal court in New Haven in the trial of Emanuel Nicolescu. His trial starts next week.

Prosecutors say Nicolescu and others invaded Bass's house in Kent in 2007, brandishing knives. The attackers are accused of injecting Bass and a guest with what they said was a deadly virus, demanding money in exchange for an antidote. Authorities said the substance was harmless, likely an ink.

Nicolescu has pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted extortion.