As expected, jury selection began for the long awaited Phil Spector murder trial yesterday. As previously reported, some 300 candidates will be considered to sit on the jury. Quite a few of those potential jurors are expected to request to be excused on the grounds they cannot commit to a court case that could run for months for economical reasons (26 did just that yesterday). Others may be rejected by lawyers for the prosecution or defence for one reason or another.
Spector himself was smiling as he worked his way through the press pack as he arrived at the LA court house yesterday. He was present as the first 75 prospective jurors filed into the court.
As previously reported, Spector has denied shooting dead actress Lana Clarkson at his Beverley Hills home back in 2003. The prosecution will accuse him of threatening women with guns before, and are expected to present one of the first police officers who arrived at Spector's house after the shooting who will testify that the legendary producer's first comment on his arrival was "I didn't mean to shoot her - it was an accident". Spector's legal people, however, continue to deny the allegations against their client, with his main lawyer, Bruce Cutler, telling the Associated Press: "Everything in this case is consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. There was no malice, no motive, no intent, no homicide, no crime".
More potential jurors will be assessed today before the case is adjourned so that both sides can consider further whether they have any objections to any possible jury members. A jury is expected to be appointed in mid-April, with the trial opening properly on 30 Apr.