02/03
 By TERRI VERMEULEN
   SANTA ANA, Calif. (UPI) -- An off-duty veteran police officer
intentionally shot a motorist after the man spat in the officer's
direction following a traffic dispute, a prosecutor said during
opening statements Wednesday.However, a defense attorney for Alan
Bruce Ice said the Long Beach police officer's gun discharged
accidentally when Ice's Jeep Cherokee surged forward and his seat
rocked backward.
   Ice, 47, was a 21-year police veteran who was fired from the Long
Beach Police Department after he shot Neal Cramer at a Fountain
Valley intersection.
   This is Ice's second trial for assault with a deadly weapon and
firearms charges. A Superior Court jury deadlocked 8-4 in favor of
guilt last October. If convicted, Ice would face a maximum of 10
years in state prison.
   Deputy District Attorney Clyde Von Der Ahe told a Superior Court
jury and Judge John M. Watson that Ice shot Cramer in September 1991
after the two exchanged obscene gestures and angry words.
   Von Der Ahe must prove that Ice intentionally shot Cramer to
support the assault charge.
   Ice allegedly became angry when Cramer swerved into Ice's lane to
avoid a fallen bicyclist.
   The two began arguing while stopped at a traffic signal and
Cramer allegedly spat in Ice's direction as the light turned green.
Several seconds later, he was hit in the arm by a bullet.
   Von Der Ahe said that doctors determined the bullet deflected off
one of Cramer's ribs, narrowly missing his heart.
   But Ice's attorney, John Barnett, maintained that the shooting
was an accident.
   Ice had loaded his gun because he believed Cramer had grabbed a
weapon, Barnett said. He said Ice had decided to drive away from the
argument as a stop light changed. But Ice's vehicle lurched forward,
sending Ice's arm flying into the air and accidentally discharging
the gun, Barnett said.
   Cramer, who testified against Ice during his first trial, is
expected to take the stand again during this trial.