Trial begins for US homemaking icon Martha Stewart

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2004

NEW YORK (AFP) — American lifestyle entrepreneur Martha Stewart arrived in federal court as the final phase of jury selection got underway for her trial on charges of securities fraud and obstruction of justice.

Stewart, 62, looked grim as she walked through a phalanx of photographers into the Manhattan court, but she waved to a group of supporters who called out messages of encouragement.

Prior to the questioning of potential jurors, Stewart was arraigned for a second time due to the filing by prosecutors of a superseding indictment that changed the language of some of the charges.

She pleaded not guilty to counts of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and securities fraud, all linked to a personal stock trade she made in December 2001.

She is also...