LOS ANGELES, April 21 (UPI) -- A "Dateline NBC" producer has landed on the jury for the Los Angeles trial of music producer Phil Spector in the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson.
The producer is a 41-year-old Pasadena, Calif., man who told the court in his juror questionnaire that he had personal experience in "covering high-profile trials" -- including those of O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson -- and that he had been researching Spector's case for months.
Jury consultant Robert Hirschhorn told the Los Angeles Times that seating the NBC producer on the jury was a "risky move" for defense attorneys. However, he said the move could pay off.
"If he's not doing it to advance his career, he could be the best juror; with so much knowledge and experience, he will be persuasive and will bend over backward to be fair to Spector, as long as he's not coming in with an agenda," said Hirschhorn, who predicted that the newsman would be the jury's foreman.
Opening statements are scheduled for Wednesday.
Spector is on trial for the shooting death of Clarkson in his mansion Feb. 3, 2003.
