Following closing arguments from both the prosecution and defense, Howard K. Stern’s fate now rests with the jury. In observance of Columbus Day, the jury isn’t expected to begin deliberating until tomorrow. As the trial draws closer to the end, please be sure to stay tuned for the latest!
Yesterday, Judge Perry strongly advised prosecutors to simplify their charges against the three defendants. Perry warned that the case may be too complex for the jurors to understand and asked the prosecutors if they were “trying to impress the jury with so many charges.” The judge is giving the prosecution more time to “clean up” their allegations and has delayed closing arguments until Monday. Perry also threw out 18 of the 39 overt acts supporting one of the conspiracy charges because he claimed they “included too many dates and involved actions that did not support a conspiracy.” Perry instructed the prosecution to eliminate more of the total 81 overt acts. To make this complicated mess even worse, the defense “pointed out that some of the 11 counts may be misdemeanors, which are covered by a statute of limitations,” meaning they would have to be thrown out if they don’t meet time requirements. Perry also rejected an “an 11th hour move by prosecutors to add Smith as an uncharged coconspirator in the alleged plan to provide her with excessive drugs.” Instead, he stated that evidence from the trial showed Smith was a “willing drug taker.” UPDATE: Late yesterday, Judge Perry announced after Read More …