By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-847213.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Jurors in the Dallas City Hall corruption trial unexpectedly got the day off because of illness in a juror's family. And pre-approved vacation plans will delay resumption of testimony until July 13th. KERA's BJ Austin says the "voice" of former Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill was heard on FBI wiretap audio tapes for the first time yesterday.
Prosecutors are playing pieces of the 30 thousand audio tapes collected over the course of the long investigation. Yesterday, Don Hill was heard getting an update on what the government claims was a scheme to extort money from low income housing developer Bill Fisher - who turned FBI informant. On one tape, a co defendant, Darren Reagan, is heard detailing how he gave ten thousand dollars to Hill in the parking lot of a church. FBI surveillance cameras documented the hand off. Defense attorney Victor Vital says the government's edited version of events is not accurate.
Vital: The government has a number of telephone conversations that they're playing snippets of. The jury has not heard other parts of conversations and we hope that we have a chance to cross examine this witness to see just how much evidence was not played that we'll get a chance to present to this jury on cross examination.
Hill's attorney Ray Jackson says he plans to use those same wiretap tapes to clear his client.
Jackson: We plan to be able to show the full story, and utilize all recordings.
More than 100 people are on the potential witness list, including former Mayor Laura Miller, and low income housing developer Brian Potashnik, who is charged with bribery in this case, but cut a deal with prosecutors the week before trial began.