D'Andre Lane's trial begins in murder case of 2-year-old Bianca Jones

DETROIT (WXYZ) - The trial in the murder case of 2-year-old Bianca Jones is scheduled to continue Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court.

D'Andre Lane is charged with First-Degree Felony Murder and First-Degree Felony Child Abuse in the disappearance of Jones. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

A jury of of 11 women and five men has been seated in the case. Four of the 16 jurors are serving as alternates.

During Wednesday's hearing lawyers for both sides gave their opening statements and Jones' mother, Banika Jones is testifying.

She says that she still supports D'Andre Lane and that she doesn't believe he had anything to do with her daughter's disappearance.

She also testified she believes her daughter is alive, saying to the jury, "My daughter is out there. She's out there."

Lane claims Bianca was kidnapped in December of 2011 during a carjacking. She hasn't been seen since.

Police believe Lane killed his daughter and made up the carjacking as a cover-up.

He admitted to police he spanked Bianca with a paddle following a potty training accident the day before she went missing. However, he's maintained his innocence.

If convicted, Lane faces life in prison.