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Hearing for US baseball king Bonds delayed three weeks
Summary
US baseball home run king Barry Bonds had a pre-trial hearing postponed three weeks in his perjury case at the request of lawyers for the embattled 43-year-old former San Francisco Giants outfielder
US baseball home run king Barry Bonds had a pre-trial hearing postponed three weeks in his perjury case at the request of lawyers for the embattled 43-year-old former San Francisco Giants outfielder.
Bonds has pleaded innocent to four charges of perjury and another of obstructing justice based upon his denials of taking performance-enhancing drugs to a grand jury looking into the BALCO steroid scandal.
A US District court date has been set for February 29, erasing a planned Friday hearing. Bonds, a seven-time National League Most Valuable Player, still does not have to appear at the session.
"Based upon the parties'' stipulation and good cause appearing therefore, it is ordered that the status conference on February 8, 2008 is vacated," the court papers read.
"It is further ordered that the calendar reflect that the case is on for both motions hearing and status conference on February 29, 2008, and that Mr. Bonds'' presence is waived."
Bonds has 762 career home runs after breaking Hank Aaron''s all-time US homer mark on August 7 when he smacked his 756th homer against Washington. He was not resigned by the Giants after his contract expired following last season.
Bonds has denied any wrongdoing but is accused of lying to the BALCO grand jury in December of 2003 when he denied using performance-enhancing substances.
Evidence gathered in the BALCO case is among the evidence being used to press the case against Bonds, whose former trainer Greg Anderson was among fiv emen convicted in the BALCO steroid distribution scheme.
Bonds'' legal team asked last month that US District Court judge Susan Illston to dis miss the case against the slugger or have clarification on the charges from the prosecutors.