Closet Support Bolsters Zsa Zsa in 2nd Trial Day

Zsa Zsa Gabor, her trial for slapping a motorcycle police officer still in its preliminary stage, proclaimed her innocence again Tuesday and said her wardrobe would carry her through, even if her case is drawn out.

“I have enough clothes (even) if this lasts a year,” the Hungarian-born actress said shortly before returning to Beverly Hills Municipal Court for a second day of jury selection.

There was considerably less media attention and only a handful of fans in evidence Tuesday as Gabor arrived with her eighth husband, Prince Frederick von Anhalt, and her lawyer, William Graysen.

While a number of spectators who attended the first day of her trial were there simply to catch a glimpse of someone famous, some of those who showed up Tuesday said they wanted to show their support.

‘She’s Got Support’

“I don’t want to see her get a bum rap,” said Margaret Holloway, 60, of Los Angeles. “I thought I’d come down and see what really happened. I just want to show her she’s got support. Everybody needs support.”

Another fan pressed a homemade card saying “I Love You Zsa Zsa” into Gabor’s hand before she walked into the courtroom in the morning.

And after lunch--during which Gabor visited her dentist to have her teeth cleaned and elected not to order the “jailhouse chili” at a local restaurant--she was greeted by a public-access cable television show host known as Mr. Pete, who has been selling buttons reading, “Free Zsa Zsa. Her trial is our trial.”

“Oh, dahling, I love you,” Gabor said in her trademark Hungarian accent as she examined one of the buttons on his jacket.

Restful Night

Wearing another Donna Karan design--this one a camel and black leopard print with a plunging neckline and adorned with a black silk flower off the shoulder--Gabor said she had a restful night after experiencing a nightmare the night before her trial began.

“Of course I slept well. I didn’t do anything wrong,” Gabor said as she swept past reporters.

At another point, she added: “Why should I be punished? I didn’t do nothing.”

On Monday, she said she had dreamed Sunday night that the officer she allegedly slapped was “beating me up.”

Gabor, however, was unable to say anything specific about the charges against her Tuesday, because of a court-imposed gag order.

Von Anhalt, who has been taking brief naps in court, said his wife is taking the case seriously, although the intense public attention “goes a little against our private lives.”

Renowned for Her Temper

Gabor, renowned for her volatile temper, is accused of hitting Officer Paul Kramer after he stopped her June 14 for an expired registration tag on her $215,000 Rolls-Royce convertible.

The actress says Kramer manhandled her and threw her over the hood of her car to handcuff her.

A police account of the incident said that while the officer was on his radio checking her license, Gabor suddenly drove off. Kramer gave chase, stopped her car a short distance away and ordered her out. Gabor complied, but slapped the officer in the face.

After she was arrested, fingerprinted and released, Gabor complained that Kramer had brutalized her and called her a “whore.”

The charges against the former Miss Hungary include battery on a police officer, disobeying a police officer and driving with an expired license, all misdemeanors. She also is charged with having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle--a flask of Jack Daniels found in her glove compartment.

‘Professional Manner’

Deputy Dist. Atty. Elden Fox has said there is no evidence that Kramer “acted in anything other than a very professional manner.”

But Graysen said he intends to make Kramer’s alleged history of abuse the focus of the trial, which is expected to last about a week after a jury is selected.

The selection of a jury was expected to continue through Tuesday, and prosecutors said they anticipate giving their opening statements today.

The prospective jurors have been asked various questions, including how they feel about profanity, whether they believe police have too much power and whether there is a potential for police to abuse that power.