Times Writer Subpoenaed in King Beating Case

A Times reporter who wrote an article detailing a confidential Los Angeles Police Department report on the officers indicted in the beating of Rodney G. King has been subpoenaed to appear next Thursday before the judge hearing the case.

The subpoena, signed by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Bernard J. Kamins, was served Wednesday night on Times staff writer Richard A. Serrano. The judge had told a court hearing earlier that he wanted to know how Serrano obtained the document.

Although the report was covered by an April 30 protective order imposed by Kamins, the judge told a hearing Wednesday that he was convinced that the four indicted officers could still get a fair jury to hear the trial.