Jury Selection Underway in Florida Millionaire Murder Trial

Sept. 13, 2011 — -- Jury selection is underway in the murder trial of a Florida millionaire who called 911 from his mansion to announce that he had shot his wife in the face.

James Robert "Bob" Ward, 63, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges. His trial will take place in the same court where Casey Anthony was acquitted, marking the second notorious trial in Orlando, Fla., in a matter of months.

On Sept. 21, 2009, Ward called 911 from the couple's exclusive Isleworth home, telling a dispatcher five times that he had shot his wife, Diane, in her face. Isleworth is a community that was once home to celebrities like Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer.

"She's dead. She's done. I'm sorry," he said in the 911 call.

While being questioned later, Ward told police, "I'm really concerned about my wife and children. I have two kids in college and it's a nightmare, but we probably need to go ahead and get a lawyer in here."

As the interrogation continued, Ward began to change his story, arguing that his wife actually pulled the trigger and committed suicide as he tried to take the gun away. Diane Ward had high levels of an antidepressant in her system as well as alcohol, according to court documents.

During Ward's interrogation, detectives noted his oddly composed demeanor.

"James Ward was smiling, and seemed to be in an upbeat mood," one detective wrote in court documents.

Video captured Ward calling relatives to say that his wife was dead.

"Ummm...it was an accident and I will tell you more about it later, but it was a very tragic accident," Ward told one loved one.

Jailhouse video captured Ward dancing and laughing with his daughter and sister-in-law.

His daughter told him, "There's money in the account for you to get stuff, all sorts of goodies. You can buy a bra so I was thinking you'd enjoy that and hemorrhoid cream."

Ward replied, "I'm right here, the Ritz!"

ABC News' legal analyst Dan Abrams said that the videos, while disconcerting, may not play a big factor in the trial.

"They make him look odd, they make him look bad, but I don't think it's going to be that significant in terms of guilt or innocence. These are her [Diane Ward's] family members as well," said ABC News' legal analyst Dan Abrams.

Prosecutors argue that Bob Ward's DNA was found on the gun and that Diane Ward was shot from over a foot away. Diane Ward was also shot within days of being scheduled to give a deposition in a financial investigation against her husband. Bob Ward faced allegations that he took money from his companies to support his lavish lifestyle.

When jury selection began Monday, potential jurors were asked about how much they knew about the case and the videos of Ward laughing and joking.

One excused juror couldn't understand the videos.

"I thought why is he laughing about the situation," she told the courtroom.

Another excused juror said that his daughters made him a sympathetic figure.

"My biggest concern is the girls," she told the court.

Legal analyst Abrams said that the defense should worry about a Casey Anthony backlash during their trial.

"In Orlando right now, there's probably some level of disappointment, frustration that they've become the focus of the nation for the verdict that shouldn't have happened...the defense should at least be concerned about the possibility of Casey Anthony backlash, a jury that doesn't want to be seen as the next Casey Anthony jury."