If you thought the O.J. trial was big....

The special circumstances murder case against Japanese national Kazuyoshi Miura is much, much, MUCH bigger ... at least for the Japanese media. Since Miura was charged earlier this year with the 1981 killing of his wife for insurance money during a visit to Los Angeles, the public information officers at the Los Angeles Superior Court and District Attorney's office have had their hands full trying to keep a pack of voracious news hounds well-fed. Every single event in the case is big news as competing media agencies try to out-do and out-scoop each other. Every court apperance is a circus.

As of today, the spectacle will call the South Bay "home." Judge Steven Van Sicklen has the case, and he is moving to Department F of the Torrance Courthouse to replace Judge Francis Hourigan, who retired recently. With Van Sicklen, comes the case.

Miura, who is currently incarcerated in his home nation, where he was convicted in 1994 for the same crime, has appeared via satellite television links at previous court hearings. His next court date is July 18. His bail status and a claim of double jeopardy are the current topics of litigation. Miura is represented here by famed defense attorney Mark Geragos. 

Photo: Associated Press