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WORLD> America
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US Sen. Stevens gifts a focus in trial arguments
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-22 09:47 'Price Is Always Right' "Ladies and gentlemen, the price is always right when it's free," Bottini said. Later, prosecutor Brenda Morris said Stevens thought he was above the law. She said Stevens "knowingly and repeatedly broke the law because he didn't think the law applied to him."
Defense lawyer Sullivan accused the prosecutors of giving a twisted interpretation of the evidence. "If you look at life through a filthy, dirty glass ... then the whole world looks dirty," he said. Sullivan said there was no proof that Stevens had engaged in a scheme to conceal, and he attacked the credibility of Allen, the prosecution's star witness. His voice rising, an indignant Sullivan said that as a cooperating witness for the prosecution, Allen had a motive to lie. Allen has pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska legislators and his sentence will depend on his cooperation in the Stevens case. Sullivan said the prosecutors were trying to brand Stevens as a criminal. "The evidence won't permit, the law won't permit it and your gut won't permit it," he told the jurors. He also cited the testimony as character witnesses by two senators and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, saying that alone was enough to create reasonable doubt. Jurors must find Stevens guilty of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. |
