MIAMI (AP) — A woman who says she was beaten by her ex-husband and thought O.J. Simpson got away with murder passed an initial round of questioning Wednesday in the former football great's road rage trial.

Jury candidates for the trial, which stemmed from an angry encounter between Simpson and a fellow driver Dec. 4, are being asked what they know about Simpson from his football career and Hertz commercials to his movies and murder trial. The Miami charges of misdemeanor battery and felony auto-burglary carry a possible prison sentence of two to 16 years.

Prospective jurors were asked if they had firm opinions on Simpson's acquittal in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. While cleared of criminal charges, he was later found liable in a civil trial.

"In your mind, you think he did it and got away with it?" defense attorney Yale Galanter asked. Prospective juror Marlen Heceverria replied, "Yes."

Heceverria referred to Simpson's ex-wife as Nicole, prompting Galanter to ask if she felt sympathy for her. The woman said she did but added, "You can get out of relationships because I got out of mine."

She said her new husband was the main source of her knowledge of current events. When he learned she was called for Simpson's jury, she said, "The only thing he mentioned to me is they are really trying to nail him now."

In contrast, first-grade teacher Ethel Burney said she agreed with Simpson's murder acquittal and disagreed with the civil liability verdict. She, too, passed the initial round of questioning and would face more questioning next week.

Simpson was charged in Miami after an encounter with fellow motorist Jeffrey Pattinson, who said Simpson rolled through a stop sign near his suburban home.

Simpson is accused of scratching Pattinson's face while reaching in Pattinson's window and pulling off his glasses.

Galanter has painted Pattinson as a hothead who tailgated, honked and flashed his lights at Simpson.

Simpson isn't commenting on his trial but was upbeat Wednesday, breaking into song in the courtroom during a recess.

Jury selection was expected to take at least a week, and testimony should last about two days.