Barry Decides Not to Testify; Defense Rests
The defense rested its case today after Mayor Marion Barry decided not to testify in his own behalf, and the jury at his trial was scheduled to begin deliberating on 14 counts of cocaine and perjury charges early next week.
The defense case, which lasted only a week, followed two weeks of jury selection and five weeks in which the government presented its case, calling a slew of witnesses to testify about Barry’s alleged involvement with cocaine, opium and marijuana dating to 1983.
Attorney R. Kenneth Mundy called 17 witnesses to testify in Barry’s defense, attempting to cast doubt on specific dates and allegations from a number of the misdemeanor cocaine possession charges, discredit the testimony of the government’s chief witnesses and question the motives of federal investigators in targeting the three-term mayor.
But despite promising “thrills” and “surprises,” Barry never took the stand, and Mundy’s most explosive comments came without the jury present.
He alleged at a bench conference Thursday that the FBI agents who participated in Barry’s Jan. 18 sting at the Vista International Hotel in Washington were part of an “assault force” targeting black elected officials nationwide.
The FBI denied the allegation, and Assistant U.S. Atty. Judith Retchin said in court today there is “absolutely no truth to the charges.”
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