Wednesday, May 29, 1996
Judge rules informant must remain under gag
order
By The Associated Press
(May 29, 1996)
DALLAS (AP) - The judge in Michael Irvin's drug case ruled
on Wednesday that Irvin confidant turned informant Dennis Pedini
remains a witness in the case and thus is subject to a gag order.
State District Judge Manny Alvarez upheld a ruling he made after
Pedini, who secretly recorded video of Irvin following two purported
cocaine buys, was paid $6,000 by television station KXAS for
the rights to broadcast the tape.
Pedini's attorney, Michael Heiskell, tried to quash the subpoena
for Pedini and get him out from under the gag order that covers
defendants, witnesses, attorneys and police.
But Irvin's attorney, Kevin Clancy, told Alvarez he feared that
Pedini might start making the talk-show rounds and tarnish a
potential jury for the June 24 trial.
Clancy is seeking to have Pedini held in contempt for an interview
the 31-year-old former security guard did with the nationally
syndicated television show "Hard Copy."
Heiskell said Pedini did nothing wrong.
"I'm quite confident that my client is not in contempt.
This is just another sideshow that Mr. Clancy is trying to create
by attacking Dennis in this manner," he said.
A hearing on the matter is set for Tuesday.
All content copyright 1996, Associated
PressThe Abilene Reporter-News and Reporter OnLine
|
