STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – A side story to Anthony Lopez’s “dolly-slay” murder trial took the spotlight Wednesday morning, and it shone on a former candidate for the jury, whose actions had nearly derailed the selection process last month.

Justice Wayne Ozzi held Tahir Kacic in civil contempt and fined him $500 for disobeying the court’s instructions and searching for information about the case and Lopez’s criminal history on his smart phone. Kacic then told other jury candidates what he had found.

Jury candidates are instructed during selection – as jurors are during the trial itself - to refrain from researching the case or seeking information about it or any of the involved parties from any source.

“Mr. Lopez is entitled to a fair trial, (but) because of what you did, you tainted the other juror (candidates),” Ozzi told Kacic, 64. “You disrupted our judicial process. You cost the state and taxpayers money, as well.”

The incident occurred on Feb. 13 and forced Ozzi to dismiss a pool of 23 potential jurors, including Kacic, just as jury selection was entering its final phase. He ordered Kacic to return Wednesday for a contempt hearing.

At the time, 12 jurors and two alternates had already been picked, and the defense and prosecutors were choosing additional alternates.

The selected jurors and alternates had been placed in a different room from those remaining in the jury pool and were not affected by Kacic’s actions.

Consequently, the trial was able to start on Feb 15, and is now winding down. The defense began presenting its case Wednesday afternoon.

Lopez, 33, of Mariners Harbor, is accused of strangling his wife, Obiamaka (Obi) Aduba, 26, to death on May 20, 2016. He then tried to dispose of her body by wheeling the partially-wrapped corpse though the street on a metal dolly, prosecutors allege.

Matthew Santamauro, Kacic’s lawyer, told the court his client “did not understand the gravity” of his actions.

He said Kacic was a first-time juror, who had emigrated to the United States and became a citizen in 2011.

“He did not understand or realize that anything he did and said would affect the jury panel as a whole,” said Santamauro.

The lawyer said his client is a union worker and married with two grown children. He has never been in trouble with the law, said the lawyer.

Public records indicate Kacic lives in South Beach.

“He is ready to take responsibility for his actions,” said Santamauro.

The attorney asked that Ozzi not find Kacic in contempt. If, however, the judge did, he requested the penalty be minimal.

Kacic potentially faced a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 30 days in jail.

The bespectacled Kacic wore a dark suit, dark blue shirt and tie.

He was contrite.

Speaking with a heavy accent, he said he came to America from a Communist regime where there is no jury selection.

“My intention was not to hurt the jury selection,” he said. “I completely got lost. … I apologize to the court and to the system. … If you give me (an) opportunity, I am glad to serve on jury. … I love this country, and God bless America.”

Besides the fine, Ozzi did not give Kacic credit for the two days he appeared for jury duty.

Outside court, Santamauro said his client never meant to disrespect or disrupt the judicial system.

“It was a mistake,” he said. “I don’t think Mr. Kacic realized the effect it would have on the panel.”