AKRON, OH (WOIO) -
The prosecution in the Jimmy Dimora corruption trial should be done presenting their case by week's end.
The defense is expected to start presenting their case Tuesday. Procedural matters will be handled Friday.
Thursday, testimony began about an hour and 45 minutes later than usual. Jurors are typically called into court close to 8:30AM each morning, but on Thursday, they came in at about 9:45AM. There was no explanation for the delay.
This, a day after defense attorneys got their chance at discrediting Frank Russo.
"Mr. Christman, do you think you were able to discredit Frank Russo?" asked Reporter Paul Orlousky.
"Yes, but I can't say anymore, Paul," he replied.
Leif Christman's dissection of Russo's testimony appeared to satisfy him. Christman had repeatedly challenged Russo on his memory of bribes, who paid them and if Dimora was present. The visual that was left in jurors minds was of a greedy, bribe-seeking Frank Russo having cash stuffed in his jacket pockets by adoring supporters at fund raisers. So much cash, he said, that at times he was fearful that if he had walked too quickly some would spill out. Only the jury can decide if that damages his credibility.
FBI Special Agent Christine Oliver returned to the stand to discuss efforts by Dimora, co-defendant Michael Gabor and Frank Russo to have a woman named Lillian Travato moved from a part-time job with the county to a full-time job with the lottery. Prosecutors say Gabor delivered a $6,000 bribe to Russo to make it happen. She never got the lottery job, but Russo did move her to full-time with benefits in his office.
Copyright 2012 WOIO. All rights reserved.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WOIO, a Raycom Media Station.
