Stewart Wins Ruling Blocking E-Mail

Martha Stewart won a ruling barring prosecutors from using an e-mail she wrote to her lawyer explaining her trading as evidence at her trial.

In a June 23, 2002, e-mail, Stewart, the former chief executive of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., offered an account to her attorney of why she sold shares in ImClone Systems Inc. The e-mail was meant to assist her lawyer’s investigation of the case, Stewart said. The next day, Stewart sent the same e-mail to her daughter Alexis.

Stewart faces trial in January on charges of conspiring with a Merrill Lynch & Co. broker, Peter Bacanovic, to obstruct an investigation into her sales of ImClone. She has pleaded not guilty.

Martha Stewart Living shares rose 5 cents to $9.75 on the New York Stock Exchange.