BABYDOL'S 'GIRLS' SHUN TRIAL START.

Byline: Jesse Hiestand Staff Writer

The trial of pandering suspect Jody Babydol Gibson opened Tuesday with a critical question unanswered: Where are the prostitutes who betrayed her to authorities, accusing her of pimping them for $1,000 an hour or more?

The four women, whose accusations support eight of the nine felony charges against Gibson, are not yet scheduled to testify, according to both the prosecution and defense.

Gibson's defense would prefer that the women, described by prosecutors as ``victim prostitutes,'' either avoid the trial in Van Nuys Superior Court or stick by their Fifth Amendment right against selncrimination, as they asserted at a previous hearing.

``If they don't show up, the charges will be dismissed,'' said defense attorney Gerald V. Scotti outside court.

Prosecutors dispute that conclusion, saying they can prove some charges by simply reading to the jury testimony police gave at previous hearings about alleged prostitution encounters with the women.

``Even without the girls, we can still prove the pimping counts for three girls,'' said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Gibbons would not say whether the women have been subpoenaed, adding only that ``we're in continuing contact with the women and their attorneys.''

Prosecutor Richard Walmark raised the issue with jurors in his opening statement.

``You may hear, if they are available, some of the victim prostitutes, who will receive a grant of immunity in exchange for their testimony,'' Walmark said.

Gibson, 41, is charged with one count each of pimping and pandering for each of the four women and an additional charge of pimping for allegedly trying to coax an undercover officer to join what authorities say was a call girl empire.

She could face up to 17 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

In his opening statement, Scotti told jurors his client produced and cast actors for adult films, thus explaining the dozens of photos, names and addresses of women that police found in a search of Gibson's residences.

Authorities have said Gibson ran a prostitution ring that catered to business executives, Hollywood actors and others.

Los Angeles police Officer Cynthia Neff testified she twice met undercover with Gibson at Du Par's Restaurant in Studio City, where they discussed rules, fees and other details of prostitution.

``She was telling me I could go from Denver to New York and make like $3,000 on these calls,'' Neff said. ``I said, 'All calls require sex?' and she said, 'Ya, pretty straight ahead.' ''

Neff said Gibson gave her a list of ``agency rules'' such as bring your own condom and never negotiate prices with clients.

Calls typically cost $1,000 an hour or more, with prostitutes keeping 60 percent and Gibson getting 40 percent, Neff said.

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Photo: Jodi Babydol Gibson talks with defense attorney Gerald V. Scotti during her trial on charges of pimping and pandering.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer