Jury selected in Anna Nicole Smith drug conspiracy case; opening statements set

By Linda Deutsch, AP
Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Jury selected in Anna Nicole case, openings set

LOS ANGELES — A jury has been selected in the Anna Nicole Smith drug conspiracy trial in Los Angeles. Opening statements are expected to begin Wednesday.

The panel of six men and six women was chosen Tuesday after two days of intense questioning by attorneys.

Smith’s boyfriend-lawyer Howard K. Stern and two of her doctors have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to provide Smith with massive amounts of opiates and sedatives. They are not charged in her overdose death in 2007.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lawyers neared an end to jury selection Tuesday in the Anna Nicole Smith drug conspiracy trial in Los Angeles.

Superior Court Judge Robert Perry called a new panel of about 70 prospects early in the day, hoping to have a jury seated for opening statements on Wednesday.

Smith’s boyfriend-lawyer Howard K. Stern and two of her doctors have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to provide her with massive amounts of opiates and sedatives. They are not charged in her overdose death in 2007.

Lawyers quizzed several of the prospective jurors about their attitudes about drugs, doctors and police officers.

One of the prospects says he learned about drugs from watching the TV show. “House.” The judge reminded him the main character, a drug-addicted doctor, is fictional.

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