End near in murder trial of lawyer representing himself
NEWARK, N.J. - A defense attorney representing himself at his own murder trial closed the testimony portion Wednesday the same way he began it nearly a month ago, assailing the government's contention that he conspired to murder a federal informant who was to testify against one of his clients.
Paul Bergrin called two witnesses in his defense Wednesday - one the ex-girlfriend of the man who admitted shooting the informant on a Newark street in 2004 - then engaged in a sharp exchange with an FBI agent called as a rebuttal witness by the government.
Under cross-examination by Bergrin, FBI Special Agent Shawn Brokos conceded she made no notes from her interview with Rashidah Tarver, whose ex-boyfriend Anthony Young is serving a prison term for shooting Deshawn "Kemo" McCray and is a key witness against Bergrin.
Tarver testified she told Brokos that Young had given her several different versions of McCray's murder.
"Didn't you think that was relevant" to write down, Bergrin asked Brokos. "You didn't memorialize anything she said?"
Questioned by Bergrin earlier Wednesday, Tarver said Young told her he had "read in a magazine" about the Witness Protection Program and wanted to tell authorities "whatever they wanted to know" about the McCray killing to pursue that option himself. He invited her and her mother to join him, Tarver testified, but she refused.
Young testified earlier in the trial that Bergrin told him and other associates of accused drug dealer William Baskerville that getting rid of McCray would make charges against Baskerville disappear. "No Kemo, no case," Bergrin is alleged to have told Young.
Bergrin, long known in Newark was a tough-as-nails defender of reputed gang members and drug dealers, once represented Queen Latifah, Lil' Kim and other celebrities. He faces one count of murder conspiracy and one count of aiding and abetting the murder of a witness and faces life in prison if convicted.
Bergrin has been assisted at his trial by attorney Lawrence Lustberg, who had been representing him.
Bergrin has been jailed since his 2009 arrest on a host of charges including racketeering, prostitution and money laundering. The murder and conspiracy charges were severed and are being considered at this trial; Bergrin will face the other charges in a separate trial.
On Wednesday, prosecutors sought to have the jury hear evidence from those other charges relating to an alleged attempted murder of another witness, but they were denied by U.S. District Judge William Martini.
"That case is pending, and the government will have its chance to prosecute that case," Martini said, noting that the events in question occurred five years after McCray's murder.
Jurors are expected to hear closing arguments on Monday.