Roger Clemens perjury case declared a mistrial
In just the second day of trial proceedings, the federal perjury case against former Cy Young winning pitcher Roger Clemens has been declared a mistrial due to inadmissable evidence.
Judge Reggie Walton stopped the proceedings this morning due to the prosecution’s use of a videotape previously deemed inadmissable.
Regarding the evidence, Walton was quoted as follows in a Wall Street Journal article:
“I can’t in good faith leave this case in a situation where a man’s liberty is at risk when the government should have taken steps to ensure that we were not in this situation. I don’t see how I can unring the bell.’’
The videotape included a statement by Laura Pettite, wife of Clemens’ former Houston Astros and New York Yankees teammate, Andy Pettite, corroborating her husband’s claims that Clemens used human growth hormone (HGH) during his time with both teams.
Walton had ruled that this evidence was hearsay in pre-trial proceedings, and with its introduction by the prosecution, immediately declared the trial a mistrial due to the evidence’s sway on assigned jurors.
A hearing will be scheduled by Walton to determine if a new trial can take place, or, if due to double jeopardy statutes, the charges against Clemens must be thrown out entirely.
It will be interesting to see how much of a priority it will be for the federal government to pursue another trial against Clemens, especially given the country’s domestic issues including a rapidly growing debt and high unemployment.
There is no doubt that if the federal government is on a witchhunt and determined to make a statement that they will use whatever resources at their disposal to do so.
Ultimately, it just comes down to whether they consider Roger Clemens a big enough witch to continue hunting.
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Hey Kris,
I find it very interesting that in the last two major court hearings (this one and the Anthony case), the prosecution has failed miserably. I am not leaning one way or the other in this case. I would prefer the star athletes of our past remain just that, STAR ATHLETES. I do not think we should infest our children, who look up to their parents favorite athlete, with the notion that in order to be great you must use an illegal substance. I believe we do just that every time we put these athletes in plain sight for our little ones to watch. I do not condone the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs and believe it is cheating. So let’s cut the snack’s head off and teach our children how to work as hard as possible to become the best they can possibly be with the talents they have been given!
Ross I agree completely. If the Clemens trial continues and they decide to re-try him it just prolongs his time in the spotlight. We might all be best served to let it be and quit giving him any PR whatsoever, either negative or positive.