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JJ Gold · 07-06-2005, 05:02 PM

Mistrial Declared in Notorious B.I.G. Case

By RYAN PEARSON, Associated Press Writer 18 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - A federal judge on Wednesday declared a mistrial in the Notorious B.I.G. wrongful death case, attorneys on both sides said.
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U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper's ruling came after she expressed concern at a hearing Tuesday that the Los Angeles Police Department had deliberately withheld evidence from the court.

There were only three days of testimony in the trial, which began June 21 but was interrupted when an anonymous tip led to the discovery of large numbers of LAPD documents that hadn't been turned over to attorneys for the rap star's family.

The family attorneys had declared their intention to refile the lawsuit with new allegations against the LAPD and against a corrupt former officer, Rafael Perez.

Assistant City Attorney Don Vincent said he would still like "to try the case on the merits."

Family attorney Perry Sanders Jr. said the case would now delve into the LAPD's Rampart corruption scandal.

Perez was a central figure in the scandal, which involved alleged misconduct or brutality by corrupt officers in an anti-gang unit in the Rampart division. More than 100 criminal convictions tainted by police misconduct were reversed.

"We're about to get to the bottom of Rampart," Sanders said. "We're about to peel the onion back to its rotten core."

07-06-2005, 05:02 PM
JJ Gold Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,969	Mistrial Declared in Notorious B.I.G. Case Mistrial Declared in Notorious B.I.G. Case By RYAN PEARSON, Associated Press Writer 18 minutes ago LOS ANGELES - A federal judge on Wednesday declared a mistrial in the Notorious B.I.G. wrongful death case, attorneys on both sides said. ADVERTISEMENT U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper's ruling came after she expressed concern at a hearing Tuesday that the Los Angeles Police Department had deliberately withheld evidence from the court. There were only three days of testimony in the trial, which began June 21 but was interrupted when an anonymous tip led to the discovery of large numbers of LAPD documents that hadn't been turned over to attorneys for the rap star's family. The family attorneys had declared their intention to refile the lawsuit with new allegations against the LAPD and against a corrupt former officer, Rafael Perez. Assistant City Attorney Don Vincent said he would still like "to try the case on the merits." Family attorney Perry Sanders Jr. said the case would now delve into the LAPD's Rampart corruption scandal. Perez was a central figure in the scandal, which involved alleged misconduct or brutality by corrupt officers in an anti-gang unit in the Rampart division. More than 100 criminal convictions tainted by police misconduct were reversed. "We're about to get to the bottom of Rampart," Sanders said. "We're about to peel the onion back to its rotten core."