An ex-con was back before a jury Tuesday, standing trial on murder and other charges resulting from the death of a woman during a high-speed chase earlier this year.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Santeris McKinney was traveling through rush-hour traffic at speeds up to 100 mph after an armed robbery and carjacking Jan. 12 at a Beach Boulevard gas station. The FHP said lost control of the van he was driving on a curve on Deerwood Park Boulevard and struck a car.

Troopers said McKinney received a minor injury, but the 24-year-old driver of the other car, Amanda Rengifo, was pronounced dead at the scene.

McKinney was charged with carjacking, murder, vehicular homicide, possession of cocaine and marijuana, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and driving on a suspended driver's license.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections' Web site, McKinney was released from prison in July 2007 after a conviction for cocaine possession. Channel 4 has learned he had been in jail 190 days since then on various charges -- including battery on a law enforcement officer.

A jury was seated on Monday and heard opening statements and the first prosecution witnesses Tuesday afternoon.

The carjacking victim, Sylvia Feijoo, said McKinny approached her as she was pumping gas.

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"He said, 'Step off bitch, then he jumped in my vehicle and left," Feijoo said.

Two construction workers testified that they saw saw the carjacked van go by at a high rate of speed, nearly hitting another vehicle before skidding out of control.

"I turned around to see a blue van come by me at a very high rate of speed," Robert Goodwin said. "He lost control and, at that time, he hit a car coming straight at him and it was like an explosion."