The trial of Bellefonte resident Scott A. Emel, charged in last January's drunk driving accident that killed a Penn State librarian, begins today and is scheduled to continue through the week.

Emel, 22, is charged with homicide while driving drunk, reckless driving and driving while under the influence. Penn State librarian and Lemont resident Kim Fisher, 51, died after Emel's car struck him last Jan. 7 on First Avenue in College Township.

Emel's attorney, Joseph Amendola, said a key issue surrounding the case is whether Emel's alcohol intake contributed to the crash.

"The real issue is whether Scott Emel was under the influence of alcohol . . . and if he was, whether that was a contributing role" to the crash, Amendola said.

Amendola said he will call different experts to the stand throughout the trial, including a toxicologist — who Amendola hopes will settle the disagreement about Emel's blood alcohol level.

An accident reconstruction specialist will also take the stand sometime this week to discuss the conditions that might have contributed to the accident, such as parked cars on First Avenue, which Amendola said may have been too narrow for on-street parking.

Today Amendola and Assistant District Attorney Stephen Sloane will deliver opening statements to 12 jurors and two alternate jurors.

Judge Tom Kistler, who is presiding over the trial, is permitting a view, which will allow jurors and members of the court to leave the courtroom to look at the scene of the accident.

Several pre-trial motions were made prior to the case, including the blocking of a statement Emel made at the scene regarding his alcohol intake.

The motion was denied and the statement will be used as evidence in the case.

Another motion was filed because of the large amount of publicity the case has generated.

Amendola filed for a change in venue, which would move the case to another county or bring jurors to Centre County from other areas.

However, there was not a hearing for this motion because both Amendola and Sloane said they were satisfied with the chosen jurors after jury selection concluded on Dec. 4.

Since his arrest last January, Emel also was arrested on drug related charges but was not convicted, Amendola said.

Emel is being held in Clinton County Prison during the trial.