This trial in the sunny state of Florida isn’t looking so sunny. In fact, it’s getting darn right messy. A DEA informant admitted tape recording the defense attorney. The U.S. Attorney admits it failed to follow policy, but is opposed to a mistrial or dismissal of the case. The defense says the recordings may have helped the prosecution figure out its trial strategy. A federal judge has yet to rule on the matter. It should be an interesting decision. Stay tuned.
BY JAY WEAVER
The Miami Herald
MIAMI — The federal trial of a Miami Beach doctor accused of illegally prescribing painkillers morphed Tuesday into a courtroom clash between his lawyer and prosecutors.
The attorney for Dr. Ali Shaygan accused two government witnesses of tape-recording him and his private investigator — at the direction of the prosecution — and then keeping it all secret during their testimony last month.
‘These people there said, `Tape-record the defense,’ ” defense attorney David O. Markus declared, pointing to prosecutors Sean Cronin and Andrea Hoffman.
The government witness, Trinity Clendening, agreed, admitting he recorded Markus on his home phone two times in December.
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