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Sep 12, 2007 4:15 pm US/Eastern
Attorneys For Sharpe James May Want Trial Moved
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) ―
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Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James. (FILE)
Attorneys for Sharpe James say they aren't sure the former Newark mayor can get a fair trial in the city he led for 20 years.
Lead attorney Thomas Ashley told a judge Wednesday that the defense will conduct a survey to determine the attitudes of potential jurors toward the 71-year-old James.
And depending on the results, they may ask to have the trial moved to either Camden or Trenton.
James is accused of using city-issued credit cards to pay for $58,000 worth of personal trips and expenses. He's also accused of engineering the sale of nine city-owned properties at a cut rate to Tamika Riley, a businesswoman described by prosecutors as his companion on many of the trips.
Both were indicted on fraud charges in July.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
