Famalaro Jury Selection Going Faster Than Expected

SANTA ANA — With jury selection moving along more rapidly than expected, opening arguments in the murder trial of John J. Famalaro could occur as early as next week, an attorney in the case said this week.

Selecting a jury for the high-profile trial originally had been expected to take as long as three weeks, but co-defense attorney Leonard Gumlia now believes the process will be quicker. It began earlier this month with a pool of 1,200 potential jurors, which has since been reduced to about 135.

“It’s slogging through,” Gumlia said.

The prosecutor in the case declined to discuss the jury-selection process.

The unusually large jury pool was ordered because of extensive pretrial publicity in the case. Famalaro is accused of killing 23-year-old Denise Huber of Newport Beach and storing her body in a freezer for three years.

Famalaro, 39, can be sentenced to death if convicted of murder and special circumstances of kidnapping and sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty.

So far, the defense and prosecution have each used six of the 20 challenges they have available to them, excusing potential jurors for reasons including bias and their views on the death penalty.

The bulk of the juror pool was excused at the start of the process on grounds of hardship.

Much of this week’s questioning of the remaining potential jurors by Superior Court Judge John J. Ryan and the attorneys has taken place in front of the entire remaining jury pool, which fills the large courtroom to capacity.

Gumlia expressed concern about the situation, pointing out that a male juror said during questioning this week that he believed Famalaro was guilty and should “fry.” The man’s comment elicited deep laughter among the group.

Gumlia fought unsuccessfully for a change of venue in the case because of pretrial publicity.

Jury selection will resume Monday.