By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-861662.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Jury deliberations in the Dallas City Hall corruption trial are expected to begin sometime Wednesday after 13 weeks and 44 witnesses. KERA's BJ Austin reports.
Final arguments are underway in the bribery and extortion trial of former City Councilman Don Hill and four associates. Each side has 6 hours. Prosecutors began closing statements with a review of the specific bribery and extortion charges, and re-played some wiretapped conversations involving the defendants and FBI informant, housing developer Bill Fisher. Defense attorneys are expected to argue that the government has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former U.S. Attorney John Ratcliffe, not associated with the case, says after so much evidence and testimony, jurors are likely eager to tackle the detailed "charge" or instructions for reaching a verdict.
Ratcliffe: I think they'll be respectful of the instructions from the Judge. But I do think that - my experience is that most jurors have their minds made up before they get into the deliberations around the charge.
The charge does include an entrapment defense for defendant D'Angelo Lee. Jurors could acquit him if they believe he was lured into the bribery and extortion conspiracy by the FBI.