Trial Highlights

A look at some of the key events in the O.J. Simpson murder trial Wednesday:

* Summary: Returning from a two-week break, defense attorneys withdrew their request for a DNA hearing outside the presence of the jury, and Superior Court Judge Lance A. Ito announced that he will sequester the panel, probably next week.

* Court action: Simpson’s lawyers--who had indicated in recent weeks that they would seek an alternative to a prolonged debate on the admissibility of DNA evidence--announced that they were withdrawing their motion for that hearing. That cleared the way for the trial to proceed more quickly, and Ito said he intended to sequester the jury beginning next week. Defense lawyers, who once objected to sequestration, said they no longer opposed that move. Opening statements could begin this month.

* Related action: A lawyer for Simpson’s first wife said she had been served with a subpoena, but he complained that authorities terrified her, and he asked Ito to quash the effort to force her to testify. Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich released the latest update on the bill for holding the Simpson trial, which he said had cost the county $1.5 million as of Nov. 30. That makes the case one of the most expensive in the county’s history.