MJ Trial: Jury selection begins

Jury selection for the Michael Jackson trial began yesterday, with over 300 people being asked whether they would be available to serve in a case which could last up to six months.

It is likely that the jury of twelve will not be fully formed for another month, though yesterday about 140 potential jurors asked to be excused while around 175 announced that they would be able to serve.

Jackson sat dressed in the white of innocence as about two sets of around 150 prospective jurors came before Judge Rodney Melville in the Santa Barbara Superior Court and the judge privately noted who would return on February 7 to form the jury pool.

The majority of the prospective panel members seem to be white with a far smaller proportion of representatives from other ethnic groups.