CARO JURY SELECTION TO BEGIN WOMAN IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING THREE SONS IN THEIR SLEEP.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday in the high-profile case of Socorro ``Cora'' Caro, accused of fatally shooting her three school-age sons as they slept.

The 43-year-old Santa Rosa Valley homemaker pleaded not guilty - later amended to not guilty by reason of insanity - in the Nov. 22, 1999, slayings of Christopher, 5; Michael, 7; and Xavier Jr., 11. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Caro is convicted.

``We will bring in a couple of hundred jurors and determine which ones have hardships and cannot serve and give the ones that remain a jury questionnaire,'' prosecutor James Ellison said.

The potential jurors will then return July 26 for the actual selection, which he anticipates will take a few days, Ellison said.

Judge Donald Coleman will determine how many alternate jurors will be needed.

Public Defender Jean Farley said she plans on calling 119 witnesses during the trial, which could take as long as four months.

``It will depend on the findings by the jury,'' she said. ``Obviously if they find her not guilty, we are done.''

Farley also would not say whether her client will take the stand.

``That is not appropriate to ask at this stage of the proceedings until the prosecution rests,'' she said.

Opening arguments are expected to begin in the early part of August, Ellison said.

Ellison said prosecutors will use a computer-generated graphic showing how they believe the children were slain. He refused to discuss what evidence or witnesses will be used in the case.

Prosecutors have said Caro shot the boys because she was distraught over her failing marriage to respected Northridge physician Dr. Xavier Caro, who filed for divorce after the incident.

Xavier Caro arrived home late in the evening to find his three oldest sons dead and his wife clinging to life with a selnflicted gunshot wound to her head. The youngest son, who was then 17 months old, was unharmed.