METRO DATELINES; Jury Screening Starts In Steinberg Trial

METRO DATELINES; Jury Screening Starts In Steinberg Trial

LEAD: Forty-six potential jurors were selected and 152 others were excused yesterday as the judge and both sides in the trial of Joel B. Steinberg began what promises to be a nearly monthlong search for a jury.

Forty-six potential jurors were selected and 152 others were excused yesterday as the judge and both sides in the trial of Joel B. Steinberg began what promises to be a nearly monthlong search for a jury.

Acting Justice Harold J. Rothwax, who will preside over the trial in State Supreme Court, said more potential jurors would be chosen this week from a pool of 300 new candidates. He added that the questioning of the potential jurors would begin Monday.

Several jurors said they wished to be excused because extensive publicity had led them to believe that Mr. Steinberg was guilty in the murder last November of Lisa, the 6-year-old he raised with Hedda Nussbaum.

Also, a lawyer from Mineola, L.I., Adrian DeLuzio, joined Ira D. London as Mr. Steinberg's defense lawyer. Mr. Steinberg is being tried on charges that he beat Lisa to death. Ms. Nussbaum has been charged but not indicted for murder and may be a prosecution witness.