Kansas City, Mo. ? A woman accused of strangling a pregnant woman and cutting the baby from her womb with a kitchen knife watched in court Monday as attorneys began selecting a federal court jury for her trial.

Prosecutors say the defendant, Lisa Montgomery, faked a pregnancy for nine months and was so desperate for a baby that she planned the December 2004 killing of 23-year-old Bobby Jo Stinnett, who was eight months pregnant.

Montgomery, 39, is charged with kidnapping resulting in death. Prosecutors allege she strangled Stinnett in the victim’s Skidmore home and removed the baby. The government is seeking the death penalty.

The baby, Victoria Jo Stinnett, survived.

Jury selection, which was closed to the public, was expected to take three days, with opening arguments starting Thursday. Prosecutors say the trial could last three to four weeks.

On Monday, some 80 prospective jurors were questioned; 50 remained in the jury pool from which a panel of 12 and three alternates will be picked.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys declined to comment about the case Monday.

Montgomery, who appeared in court and sat between two of her lawyers, pleaded not guilty to the charge in January 2005, and her lawyers have said they plan to use an insanity defense.