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Monday, May 19, 1997

Shahravan's perjury trial postponed

DALLAS (AP) - A misdemeanor perjury trial for a former topless dancer accused of fabricating sexual assault allegations against Dallas Cowboys players Erik Williams and Michael Irvin was postponed this morning.

Defense attorneys for Nina Shahravan asked for the continuance. The trial was rescheduled for July 28.

Prosecutors chose to try Ms. Shahravan on the more serious Class A perjury charge, instead of the Class B charge of making a false police report, because of the stiffer sentence if convicted, according to assistant district attorney Mike Gillett.

Shahravan, 24, told police Dec. 30 that the night before she was raped by Williams and an unidentified man at Williams' home while Irvin pointed a gun at her and videotaped the attack.

A day later, Marty Griffin of Dallas-Fort Worth TV station KXAS-TV reported her allegation and police later held a news conference that was widely broadcast.

Shahravan conceded on Jan. 10 that Irvin was not present and that she willingly had sex with Williams and another man, according to a police affidavit. Police cleared the players later that day.

Williams since has filed a federal lawsuit accusing police of violating his civil rights and another case in state district court accuses the TV station that first reported the story and one of its reporters of defaming him.