New trial begins for Gary Zerola

LYNN – The public urination trial for Lynn native and Boston attorney Gary Zerola began in Boston Municipal Court late Wednesday afternoon, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.Zerola was arrested at about 1:45 the morning after the Celtics won the NBA Championship over the Los Angeles Lakers outside the TD Banknorth Garden.District Attorney spokesman Jake Wark said the trial began with opening arguments and testimony from the Boston police officer who arrested Zerola.Zerola was allegedly urinating with his back turned when the officer asked Zerola what he was doing. The officer says he grabbed Zerola’s hand when he tried to flee and Zerola allegedly struck him in the process.He was once named one of People magazine’s “Most Eligible Bachelors” and used to work as a prosecutor in Essex and Suffolk counties.Zerola was acquitted in three separate rape cases this past winter.After beating the charges he continued to practice law and represented Kathy Hilton, the woman accused of setting a fire in Lynn that killed five people, along with attorney Michael Natola. Hilton was acquitted in February.