The jury selection for the trial of Angela Polina, the ex-fiancé of former police officer Michael Valva, is set to begin on Wednesday.

Pollina is being charged with second-degree murder and four counts of child endangerment.

'She is scared, her life is on the line," said Matthew Tuohy, Pollina's Attorney.

Michael Valva, of Center Moriches, was found guilty of starving his sons Thomas Valva and his 10-year-old Anthony Valva, leaving them out in the freezing cold and then lying to first responders about what happened. He was sentenced in December to 25 years to life in prison.

Polina is accused of being the one who banished the boys to the garage. Prosecutors say that Pollina and Valva forced his two sons, both on the autism spectrum, to sleep on a concrete floor in an unheated garage for months.

'I think it is going to be difficult, a lot of people unfortunately have their minds made up before they even see the evidence," added Tuohy.

Thomas Valva died on January 17, 2020 of hypothermia. 

The District Attorney's office did not respond to News 12 when asked to comment ahead of the trial.