Britney's driving trial stalls on day one

The first day of Britney Spears’ trial for driving without a licence ended yesterday without a single juror being selected.

Potential jurors expressed a range of opinions on Spears and the matter during initial questioning. One man labelled the idea of a trial “ridiculous”, while another indicated he blamed the paparazzi, not Spears, for her troubles.

Only one person was dismissed from the jury pool. The woman indicated she had some previous contact with Spears’ business manager.

Questioning was scheduled to restart today, and opening statements could begin later if a jury is selected.

The charge is the last remnant of a case that stemmed from an accident last August in which Spears, who did not have a valid California licence, hit a parked car and left the scene. Drivers are supposed to get a California licence within 10 days of establishing residency.

Spears, 26, did not appear in court and may not attend the trial. Her lawyer said that no final decision had been made.

Her father James Spears may be called as a witness in the case, which is expected to last three days. Other potential witnesses include police officers and a producer for gossip site X17online.com.