By PAUL ELIAS, Associated Press Writer
24 minutes ago 6am CST, Jan 24, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds asked a federal judge to dismiss perjury charges against him Wednesday, arguing the indictment is "scattershot" and noted for its "striking inartfulness." Bonds was charged in November with lying to a grand jury about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
In the motion filed in San Francisco federal court, the former San Francisco Giant neither admits nor denies taking the drugs, but argues the questions asked by prosecutors during a December 2003 grand jury appearance were vague, ambiguous and confusing.
The lawyers said "the questions posed to him by two different prosecutors were frequently imprecise, redundant, overlapping and frequently compound."
Prosecutors asked Bonds several times whether personal trainer Greg Anderson supplied him with steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs beginning in 2000. Bonds answered "no" or "not at all," but his lawyers argued the questions were not clear.
Bonds' lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Susan Illston to toss the case or order prosecutors to streamline the indictment, which cites 19 different instances of Bonds' alleged lying. Bonds, a free agent, has pleaded not guilty to four charges of perjury and one count of obstruction.
Prosecutor Matt Parrella declined comment.
Such motions to dismiss cases are frequently filed, though rarely granted in federal criminal cases.
The court papers do offer an early glimpse at Bonds' legal strategy. Legal experts said prosecutors must prove Bonds lied and that their questions before the grand jury were direct and open to little interpretation.
Bonds' lawyers wrote "some portions of the indictment are so vague that it is simply impossible to be certain what untruths Mr. Bonds is alleged to have uttered."
Former Olympic cyclist Tammy Thomas, also charged with lying about her drug use, similarly argued last year for her case to be dismissed. She said multiple alleged instances of her lying were lumped confusingly into a single charge.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who's hearing all cases related to the BALCO steroids ring, has not ruled on Thomas' motion.
Illston is scheduled to hear from Bonds' legal team Feb. 29.
****************************************************************************
When that fateful Day comes that we are face to face with God. Will you say to Him...
"Your indictment is scattershot and noted for its striking inartfulness!"?
When he says you have lied, will you say, "No, or not at all?"
Will you say that the person you lied to asked vague, ambiguous and confusing questions?
All liars will have their part in the lake of fire -- unless they repent of their sins and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ!
Who is your trust in?
Bill Hybels? Rick Warren? Tony Jones? Brian McLaren? Joel Osteen?
How about putting your trust in Jesus alone. Get into God's Word and don't twist it around to justify your stance on things. Know what it says in its full context so that there will be no confusion.
Are you a good person?
Will you be like Bonds?
or
Will you be like Paul, remember my chains!?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
"Who is your trust in?
Bill Hybels? Rick Warren? Tony Jones? Brian McLaren? Joel Osteen?"
Good question Brian. Often I find myself relying too hevilly on the teachings of John MacArthur, Paul Washer and John Piper, and not enough on the teachings of the Bible. It hewlps that they are biblically sound teachers, but where should my emphisis be?
Barry Bonds is a Knuckle head, pure and simple. :)
Timm,
I suggest you move to another country where Christianity is illegal (or you can't find a church)...I'm thinking Asia. You'll be forced to rely solely on the Word of God.
(I can get you a job in Taiwan really easily.. :)
That's how it's been for me for the past two years...it's the second best thing that has ever happened to me.
But then again, I see Afghanistan in your profile, perhaps my advice is useless then...(I really want to go there soooo badly!!!! My best friend just returned from there...)
You're right Stella, I would imagine it is easier to reach the lost in a place like Taiwan than it is here. In either case, we need to rely on God's Word and not on man. I do have a lot of respect for John MacArthur and Paul Washer.
For me, I would love to be able to afford to go to some other country some time to preach. I think it would be a great experience. At the same time, we have soooo many people in our own country who are misleading people, that I feel a calling to reach people here!
Well, if you ever feel called to leave the US, this is what you do:
Teach English.
It's so simple! And you don't even have to have any teaching experience! Just be a native speaker.
Isn't Washer from Alabama? I've heard his preaching...I like him! I've been looking into Alabama when I return to the States. I need some COUNTRY!!!! (I can't believe I just said that)! :)
In the meantime, you do yo' thang...and I'll keep it real ova here...aiight.
(hahahahaha!!!!)
pretty funny on the Alabama country thing!! just keepin it real here!
oohh!! you're breaking down!!!! when's your birthday...i think you need some bling! and maybe a really stiff yankee cap!
(im enjoying this way too much!)
celebrated it on Dec 9th! I used to wear a 1966 Galaxy 500 hood ornament around my neck but it got too heavy!!
Stella,
I wonder what it is about my profile that screams Afghanistan to you?
Brian, I'm assuming that ornament was from your car and not some car parked in the street?
just kidding! Actually my first car I ever owned cost me $250, and it was a 1966 Galaxy 500 with a 289 engine. I could open the hood and fix most of the engine problems myself (of course the engine blew up on my way to school one day, but I digress...)
timm,
your profile says location: MI and afghanistan...
:)
Brian,
I knew it!!! You are from da 'hood!! Your secret is out!!
Someone offered me a car yesterday!! I had to sell mine last year because it was too old and needed a new transmition. It had been sitting for a year and waiting another year wouldn't do it any good...
The car is 25 years old with 60,000 miles on it...I'm thinking I should take it since it's free for me.
There's something about driving in cars that are as old as I am...
it used to be that a 25 year old car was considered an antique.
does that make you an antique??
;o)
well, i do tell my students im as old as the dinosaurs!
haha
Post a Comment