Thursday, July 11, 1996

Policeman Testifies On Fingerprints In Irvin Trial

DALLAS (AP) - Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin's fingerprints were found on two plates, according to a policeman in today's testimony.

Irving Officer Kelly Morrow took the stand in the 11th day of Irvin's cocaine possession trial. Morrow had fingerprinted the evidence taken from a March 4 drug bust at an Irving motel room.

A second witness is expected to testify today. The person is described as someone who works for Irvin. He was identified in opening statements as being the person whom Irvin, former teammate Alfredo Roberts and topless dancer Jasmine Nabwangu went to after topless dancer Angela Beck was arrested at the scene.

Irvin is charged with second-degree felony cocaine possession, which carries a punishment range from probation to 20 years in prison. Beck and Nabwangu also face cocaine charges.

Irvin also faces misdemanor marijuana charges that will be heard later.

Courtroom watchers spent much of the day wondering whether any of Irvin's teammates would show up on the football star's behalf.

An associate of Irvin's said not to be surprised if as many as four more high-profile friends would make appearances. Troy Aikman had come to the courthouse on Wednesday.

While court was in session Wednesday afternoon, Irvin seldom looked at Aikman. As soon as jurors left the room, Irvin walked over to a low retaining wall, reached over and shook Aikman's hand.

Aikman leaned back towards Irvin and they embraced, then whispered to each other.

"I'm here to support a friend, certainly, in a time of need," Aikman said outside the courtroom. "It is not to come here and try to influence the jury or the outcome of this trial in any way.

"I'm here much like many of Michael's family members are here, and that is for support."

Although the afternoon session was delayed by an hour, defense attorney Royce West denied speculation that the prosecution tried barring Aikman's appearance.

"No, they didn't try keeping him away," West said.

Several jurors seemed not to notice Aikman sitting in the front row; others glanced at him during pauses in testimony.

Aikman listened as attorneys finished questioning Irving police detective James Hallum, then discussed narcotics testing with John Lamonte, a supervisor at the lab where the drugs in this case were examined.

Lamonte said 10.3 grams of cocaine were found from six pieces of evidence. Irvin's charge is for possessing between 4 grams and 200 grams of cocaine.

Lamonte said the rock of crack pulled from the gym bag of co-defendant Angela Beck weighed 8.9 grams. Hallum said crack goes for $75 to $120 per gram on the street, making the rock worth between $668 and $1,068.

Lamonte also verified reports that one-two thousandth of a gram of residue was found in a test tube taken from atop Irvin's jewelry bag. It was the only item seized directly from his belongings and has been the focus of much questioning by lead defense attorney Kevin Clancy.

Clancy continued Wednesday to use a package of artificial sweetener to show how loose cocaine gathered by officers at the scene could've been shaken into the test tube when evidence was packed together in a plastic bag.

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