By BJ Austin
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-852743.mp3
Dallas, TX – Prosecutors in the corruption trial of a former Dallas Councilmember and four others plan to call at least 8 witnesses this week. KERA's BJ Austin says the government's "star" witness concluded his testimony last week.
Affordable housing developer Brian Potashnik, who entered a guilty plea in this bribery and extortion case, and cut a deal with prosecutors, spent more than three days on the stand. Prosecutors questioned Potashnik about payments he made to associates of Councilman Don Hill. Potashnik says he felt pressured to pay up or lose the councilman's critical support for his South Dallas developments. Former U.S. Attorney John Ratcliffe - not associated with the case --says prosecutors apparently have a mountain of evidence in this complex case, and are carefully choosing what to present to jurors.
Ratcliffe: There's always a danger of spending too much time and trying to provide too much information to a jury. In other words, you pick your best evidence and you present it in a way that appears to be overwhelming.
Ratcliffe says there is a danger that TOO much evidence could prompt jurors to tune out. The trial began in late June. A court schedule sent out last week pencils in testimony and deliberations thru OCTOBER - if necessary.