Phil Spector Murder Trial Ready To Start
Four men and two women were seated Tuesday as alternate jurors for music producer Phil Spector's trial on a charge of murdering actress Lana Clarkson.
Both sides accepted the six alternates after a lengthy process of questioning during which prosecutors claimed outside the jurors' presence that the defense was systematically eliminating women from the panel.
The defense said its dismissals were based on reasons other than gender and the judge allowed the defense to remove one more woman before the final panel was selected. She was replaced by a woman.
Alternates would move into regular jurors' seats if any of them have to leave the case for some reason.
Photos: Courting Phil Spector
The regular jury, chosen earlier, has nine men and three women.
Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler scheduled opening statements to begin Wednesday.
Spector, famous for his 1960s "Wall of Sound" recording technique, is accused of murdering Clarkson on Feb. 3, 2003. She was found shot through the mouth in the foyer of his suburban Alhambra home.
Clarkson, best known for the Roger Corman 1980s cult classic "Barbarian Queen," had gone home with Spector from her job as a nightclub hostess.
By Linda Deutsch