April 17, 2007 2:16

Jury selection in Phil Spector case begins

Judge warns 'This case is not about you'

Jury selection in the murder trial of US music producer Phil Spector began today (April 16) in Los Angeles.

Approximately 100 prospective jurors were verbally questioned by lawyers, who were ordered by Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler to also consider the answers they provided on written questionnaires last month.

Fidler told the panel that although the proceedings will be televised, all jurors will remain anonymous. He encouraged them to reveal their innermost thoughts during questioning, reports the Associated Press.

"This case is not about you," he told the prospective jurors. "This criminal justice system works extremely well if we end up with 12 impartial jurors willing to be fair to both sides There are some people looking for their 15 minutes of fame. We're not looking for that kind of juror."

Spector was accused of murdering B-movie actress Lana Clarkson at his home in California four years ago.

Clarkson died from a single shot to the head at the producer's Los Angeles mansion in February 2003.

Spector has previously denied murder, claiming that the gunshot wound was "self-inflicted". If convicted, Spector could face life in prison. He is currently free on $1 million bail.

Opening statements in the trial are expected at the end of the month.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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