SAN DIEGO -- At least 150 prospective jurors filled out questionnaires Friday in the trial of Kristin Rossum, a former toxicologist accused of fatally poisoning her husband two years ago.

Discussion

American Beauty Trial Share Your Thoughts And Feelings About The Case

The potential jurors were screened ahead of time to determine if they could serve in a trial that might last up to four weeks.

Those still in the pool will return to Judge John Thompson's courtroom Wednesday for further jury selection.

Opening statements could get under way as early as Thursday or Friday.

Prosecutors theorize that Rossum, 25, killed Gregory de Villers after he threatened to report her from drug use and for having an affair with her supervisor, Michael Robertson.

Rossum allegedly stole a powerful painkiller -- fentanyl -- from the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office with the help of Robertson and administered the drug to her 26-year-old spouse, prosecutors allege.

Court papers filed by prosecutors describe Robertson -- who moved back to his native Australia after de Villers' death -- as "an unindicted co-conspirator."

Both Rossum and Robertson were fired from their jobs -- Rossum for methamphetamine use and Robertson for failing to tell his supervisors about his affair with the defendant.

Authorities first thought de Villers committed suicide on Nov. 6, 2000, but Rossum -- his wife of 17 months -- was arrested in June 2001 and charged with murder.

Prosecutors said Rossum staged an "American Beauty" suicide scene to make it look like her husband took his own life.

Paramedics testified at a preliminary hearing last year that rose petals were found around the victim's body. De Villers also was clutching his wedding photo, witnesses testified.

The weekend he died, Rossum told de Villers that she was leaving him, according to court testimony.

Rossum's father, Ralph, said his son-in-law had been "spiraling down" for some time, spent weekends in bed and was depressed.

De Villers, who helped his wife kick her meth habit years earlier, detested drugs, prosecutors said.

In addition to fentanyl, the painkiller Oxycodone and the sedative Clonazepam were found in de Villers' system. No syringes or fentanyl patches were near his body.

Last January, Rossum was released on $1.25 million bail and returned to work as a part-time chemist for a former employer.

The television show "48 Hours" showed the defendant drinking champagne after her release from jail.