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Springer show trial begins

SARASOTA,, Fla., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Jury selection begins in earnest at Sarasota Tuesday for the trial of German citizen Ralf Panitz, charged with murdering his ex-wife following an appearance on the Jerry Springer television show.

Prospective jurors filled out forms Monday and the panel was pared frpom 269 to 100 by Circuit Judge Nancy Donnellan for questioning Tuesday.

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Panitz is charged with beating and strangling his former wife, Nancy Campbell, at their former home in Sarasota July 24, 2000. An appearance on the syndicated Springer show by Panitz, Campbell and Panitz' current wife, Eleanor, was aired a few hours before the death.

Geoffrey Fieger, best known for representing "suicide doctor" Jack Kervorkian, is representing Panitz. He said Monday he is being paid by the Springer show.

But a spokeswoman for Springer denied it.

"All I can say is that it is absolutely not true," said Linda Shafran, a spokeswoman for the show.

Fieger said he would call Springer as a witness during the trial. Springer has a winter home in Florida.

Earlier on the day of the murder, a judge had granted the victim a restraining order against her ex-husband.

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They had appeared on a segment entitled "Secret Mistresses Confronted." Ralph Panitz and Campbell-Panitz divorced in February 1999.

He married Eleanor Panitz a month later, but Campbell-Panitz was apparently unaware at the time the show was taped that they had married.

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