Jury Selection Begins Monday In Accused Teacher Killer's Trial

Caption: (clockwise) Shaun Wild, 24, of Brown Deer, WI, was in his first year of teaching when prosecutors said he died in a bar fight at Frankie’s Blue Room in downtown Naperville. Daniel Olaska, 30, of Naperville, is expected to argue that he acted in self-defense in the stabbing death of Wild, his attorneys say.

When a Naperville elementary school teacher was stabbed to death in a bar fight three years ago, it fell upon parents and grief counselors to explain to his class of second-graders that their beloved teacher would not be coming back.

This week, 30-year-old Daniel Olaska, of Naperville, will stand trial on first-degree murder charges for the stabbing death of Shaun Wild, 24, who died in the early morning hours of Feb. 4, 2012 after a fight broke out at Frankie’s Blue Room in Naperville.

Jury selection will begin Monday at the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton, with opening statements possibly taking place as early as the afternoon.

• Bond Set at $3 Million for Man Charged in Naperville Fatal Bar Stabbing

Wild, of Brown Deer, WI, was a first-year teacher at Spring Brook Elementary in Naperville, where he quickly bonded with his second grade class. Highly regarded by the school’s administrators, faculty, parents and students, Wild’s transition from popular student and former football player at North-Central College to elementary school teacher was seamless.

Colleagues, parents and students described Wild as a bright light. A scholarship fund has been established in his name at North-Central College.

On Feb. 4, 2012, the young teacher and friends were spending the evening at Frankie’s Blue Room where Wild and his friends found themselves sharing a table with Olaska in the crowded bar.

Prosecutors have said Wild’s friend, Lemont native Willie Hayes, was sitting at a table with Olaska and made a comment about Olaska drinking beer out of a wine glass. Olaska took offense, prosecutors allege, and as the incident escalated, Olaska allegedly took out a folding knife.

After Olaksa allegedly stabbed Hayes, Wild was fatally injured while attempting to prevent Olaska from leaving the bar, prosecutors have said. Bouncer Raphael Castenada attempted to get Olaska under control and was also stabbed in the arm, according to police.

• Friends, Teachers: Shaun Wild Was a Bright Light

Once in police custody, prosecutors said that Olaska admitted to the stabbing.

More than 100 people in Frankie’s Blue Room witnessed the incident, which was also caught on security tape.

Olaska’s attorneys will try to convince the jury that Olaska acted in self-defense.

Olaska’s attorney argued during his bond hearing in February 2012 that the event was an aberration in Olaska’s life. He has a master’s degree in aviation administration from Middle Tennessee State University, worked at the Schaumburg Airport as an aviation manager and was living at his parents’ home during the time of incident.

The Naperville man has been held the past three years at DuPage County Jail without bail.

He faces a number of felony charges related to the alleged murder. He has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder.

If convicted of the murder charge, Olaska faces a sentence of 35 to 120 years in prison.

It is not known if Olaska will testify on his own behalf. He is not obligated to do so so.

The trial is expected to last about a week.

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