Roger Clemens
J.B Nicholas/Splash News Online
The former Major League Baseball pitcher's federal perjury trial came to an early end Thursday ? only the second day of testimony ? when U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton declared a mistrial.
The jury was inadvertently allowed to hear statements from a U.S. congressman about the credibility of key witnesses in the case, including Clemens's former teammate Andy Pettitte.
"We'll never know what impact that will have on how this jury decides this case, when we have a man's liberty's at stake," said Walton, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I am troubled by this ... I don't see how I un-ring the bell."
In an earlier ruling, the judge had said he would not allow testimony about the credibility of certain key witnesses, including Pettitte.
But a screen in the courtroom displayed written comments by U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings discussing Pettitte's credibility.
Walton said a hearing will be held on July 29 about whether double jeopardy exists in the case, and the trial will not begin again until Sept. 2.
Source: http://feeds.people.com/~r/people/headlines/~3/EhsGrz12OTI/0,,20510125,00.html
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