Presser Granted Indefinite Delay of Trial

A federal judge Tuesday granted an indefinite delay in the racketeering trial of Teamsters Union President Jackie Presser because of medical reports that he is too ill to stand trial and may live only six more months.

Dr. Robert Spetzler of Phoenix, who operated on Presser for brain cancer on May 17, told the court the 61-year-old union chief is too mentally and physically weak to stand trial for at least four to six months.

Spetzler said that Presser, in fact, may have only six months to live because the brain cancer may spread throughout his body. Presser underwent a successful operation for lung cancer in January, 1987.

Spetzler addressed the court hearing over a speaker phone from St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Phoenix, where he is the chief neurological surgeon.

One Tumor Removed

Under questioning by William S. Lynch, a senior litigation attorney with the Justice Department, Spetzler said he had removed one malignant tumor from Presser’s brain but left another smaller tumor to be treated by radiation.

In a letter submitted to the court, Spetzler said Presser “is more alert and more aware of his surroundings” since the operation but “remains confused regarding recent events.”

Presser has been in Phoenix since last October recuperating from radiation treatment for his lung cancer.

After his brain cancer was diagnosed early last month, he took a four-month leave of absence from his Teamsters post.

Spetzler said he agreed with doctors at the Cleveland Clinic who had previously examined Presser that his chances of recovery are “very poor.”

Indefinite Postponement

After hearing Spetzler’s report, Lynch asked for an indefinite postponement in Presser’s trial next month so that two co-defendants, Harold L. Friedman, an international vice president of the union, and Anthony Hughes, a longtime Presser associate, can be prosecuted without Presser on July 12.

While U.S. District Judge George W. White granted the postponement--the third in Presser’s case--he insisted that Friedman and Hughes must be ready to proceed.

Defense lawyers for the two co-defendants said they would attempt to take a sworn statement from Presser at the earliest opportunity in hopes of using it to convince jurors that Presser had authorization from the FBI to hire Mafia-related employees who performed no work for the union.

Presser was a secret informant for the FBI on organized crime matters for 11 years and Hughes assisted him in this work. Friedman was never involved with the FBI, officials said.

Presser Statement Sought

Paul Cambria, Friedman’s defense attorney, told the court that Friedman “always assumed” Presser would be present at trial and could help defend all three men by testifying about his informant role with the FBI.

The men are charged with misusing $700,000 in union funds to keep the non-working employees on the payroll.