6 Prospective Jurors in King Case Removed

Six prospective jurors, including a black woman, an Asian woman and a Latino man, were dismissed Thursday from hearing the federal trial of four white police officers charged in the beating of blakc motorist Rodney G. King.

U.S. District Judge John Davies declined to reveal why half of the first panel of 12 had been removed other than to say it was for cause. Challenges, which are being kept secret, are allowed on the basis of bias or personal hardship.

Earlier, defense attorneys indicated they would try to remove at least one black prospective juror but want to oppose the removal of any white jurors by prosecutors.

The other three prospective jurors who were excused were white.

Davies balked at a suggestion by attorney Harland Braun that the defense would object on racial grounds to the disqualification of any white jurors by prosecutors.

“You can’t (do that), because the overwhelming number of people on the jury are white,” the judge told Braun. “Your position isn’t too persuasive.”

However, Davies indicated he would entertain legitimate objections to the removal of jurors on the basis of race. He said the arguments would take place in secret conferences in his chambers because he does not want prospective jurors to know why they are being challenged.

Attorneys focused their inquiry on the black prospective jurors as two days of questioning of potential panelists ended Wednesday.

Two black women said they could be unbiased jurors and would face the black community fearlessly if they decided to acquit the four white policemen.

“I don’t think it takes a certain amount of courage,” said one. “ . . . I have an open mind. I don’t think it’s a black-white issue.”

Lawyers predicted that only one to four of the first 12 quizzed would be seated on the jury.

The officers’ first trial in the predominantly white Los Angeles area suburb of Simi Valley was decided by a jury which included no blacks.

The verdicts triggered riots in Los Angeles that killed more than 50 people and caused about $1 billion in damage.

The defendants--officers Laurence M. Powell, Theodore J. Briseno, Timothy E. Wind and Sgt. Stacey C. Koon--face federal charges of violating King’s civil rights when he was beaten at the end of a traffic chase in March, 1991. The incident was videotaped and televised worldwide.