Lawyers for Hollywood star Wesley Snipes have named more than 70 potential character witnesses, including several celebrities, as jury selection began in the actor's tax fraud and conspiracy trial. Muhammad Ali, Spike Lee, Tom Brokaw, Woody Harrelson and Sylvester Stallone were among the names mentioned in court in Ocala, Florida. Snipes, 45, and two co-defendants, both known tax protesters, are accused of conspiring to defraud the US of millions of dollars.

The Blade star allegedly first collaborated with Eddie Ray Kahn and Douglas Rosile in 2000, then stopped filing tax returns.

Lawyers for Snipes insist he was misled by unscrupulous advisers and did not know he was doing anything wrong. Jury selection did not conclude on Monday, as had been scheduled.