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http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060303/APS/603030773
Assault trial of Commanders' Taylor delayed again
By CURT ANDERSON
AP Legal Affairs Writer
MIAMI -- The trial of Washington Commanders safety Sean Taylor on aggravated assault charges has been delayed again by a judge who also heard allegations Friday that one witness in the case has been threatened and offered money.
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Mary Barzee agreed to delay the trial from March 20 to April 10 at the request of Taylor's defense team, which now numbers three lawyers. They said more time was needed to take witness statements, including three people who live in other states.
At a hearing, prosecutor Michael Grieco said one witness in the Miami area had gotten several threatening phone calls and been offered cash to influence testimony. He declined to identify the witness or who might have contacted that person.
"It's an open investigation," Grieco said.
Taylor, 22, faces a maximum of 46 years in prison on three aggravated assault charges and one misdemeanor battery charge stemming from a June 1 confrontation with a group of people in a dispute over an all-terrain vehicle. Each aggravated assault charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of three years.
Taylor, who was not present in court Friday, has pleaded not guilty and is free on $16,500 bail.
Because a gun was allegedly used in the confrontation, prosecutors have refused to waive the minimum 3-year prison term in exchange for a guilty plea. Taylor, however, insists that he did not nave a gun nor did anyone else, his lawyer said.
"It was a fistfight. There were no guns, no knives, no clubs, no weapons of any kind," said Taylor attorney Edward Carhart.
Taylor, a former University of Miami standout, signed a seven-year, $18 million contract with the Commanders after he was drafted in 2004. Defense lawyers have listed as potential Taylor character witnesses Commanders coach Joe Gibbs and owner Daniel Snyder, although it is far from certain whether either will actually testify.
Taylor has been fined several times during his two-year football career for various infractions, including a $17,000 penalty imposed by the NFL for spitting in the face of Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman during a playoff game in January. He also recovered a fumble in that game and ran it back for a touchdown.
He was fined $25,000 for skipping a mandatory rookie symposium and has also been penalized for illegal hits and uniform violations.
He has six interceptions and 120 tackles in his two seasons.
Bribing witnesses is never good.
I wonder if he keeps hiring new attorneys if he can keep gettin the trial delayed. Enough is enough already. I mean this happened last july? They haven't bothered to interview witnesses from other states yet? He should have went to trial back in September.
Assault trial of Commanders' Taylor delayed again
By CURT ANDERSON
AP Legal Affairs Writer
MIAMI -- The trial of Washington Commanders safety Sean Taylor on aggravated assault charges has been delayed again by a judge who also heard allegations Friday that one witness in the case has been threatened and offered money.
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Mary Barzee agreed to delay the trial from March 20 to April 10 at the request of Taylor's defense team, which now numbers three lawyers. They said more time was needed to take witness statements, including three people who live in other states.
At a hearing, prosecutor Michael Grieco said one witness in the Miami area had gotten several threatening phone calls and been offered cash to influence testimony. He declined to identify the witness or who might have contacted that person.
"It's an open investigation," Grieco said.
Taylor, 22, faces a maximum of 46 years in prison on three aggravated assault charges and one misdemeanor battery charge stemming from a June 1 confrontation with a group of people in a dispute over an all-terrain vehicle. Each aggravated assault charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of three years.
Taylor, who was not present in court Friday, has pleaded not guilty and is free on $16,500 bail.
Because a gun was allegedly used in the confrontation, prosecutors have refused to waive the minimum 3-year prison term in exchange for a guilty plea. Taylor, however, insists that he did not nave a gun nor did anyone else, his lawyer said.
"It was a fistfight. There were no guns, no knives, no clubs, no weapons of any kind," said Taylor attorney Edward Carhart.
Taylor, a former University of Miami standout, signed a seven-year, $18 million contract with the Commanders after he was drafted in 2004. Defense lawyers have listed as potential Taylor character witnesses Commanders coach Joe Gibbs and owner Daniel Snyder, although it is far from certain whether either will actually testify.
Taylor has been fined several times during his two-year football career for various infractions, including a $17,000 penalty imposed by the NFL for spitting in the face of Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman during a playoff game in January. He also recovered a fumble in that game and ran it back for a touchdown.
He was fined $25,000 for skipping a mandatory rookie symposium and has also been penalized for illegal hits and uniform violations.
He has six interceptions and 120 tackles in his two seasons.
Bribing witnesses is never good.
I wonder if he keeps hiring new attorneys if he can keep gettin the trial delayed. Enough is enough already. I mean this happened last july? They haven't bothered to interview witnesses from other states yet? He should have went to trial back in September.
