The family says it hopes the trial in Memphis, Tennessee, which is expected to last two weeks, will help them learn more about the assassination over 30 years ago.

The King family last year filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lloyd Jowers, who claimed on television in 1993 that he hired the killer of the activist.

Jowers has refused to name the person he believes murdered Dr King, but insists it was not James Earl Ray who was convicted of the crime and died in jail last year.

Conspiracy

The King Family hope the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages from Jowers and "unknown" conspirators, will show that the murder resulted from a conspiracy, not a lone gunman.

"We just want all the evidence to be presented and speak for itself," said Dexter King, son of the murdered civil rights leader. "And hopefully (it will) bring our final legal remedy to an end."

Ray recanted his murder confession

Dr King was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis in 1968. Ray confessed shortly after to the murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. He recanted soon after pleading guilty, claiming that he had been set up.

Jowers, who owned a restaurant on the ground floor of a building from where the fatal shot was fired, said he was paid $100,000 to hire the killer.

Jowers has alleged that the fatal shot was fired from behind the restaurant and that the killer handed him the rifle moments after the assassination. He claims he gave the weapon to an unidentified conspirator the next day.