EdwardKnoxII 0 Report post Posted June 27, 2004 http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,14395,00.html Martha Sentencing Delayed by Marcus Errico Jun 25, 2004, 6:05 PM PT Martha Stewart's not the kind of person who nixes social engagements, but in this case, she'll gladly make an exception. The domesticity doyenne had her sentencing pushed back another week, after her lawyer on Friday asked the judge to take more time (as much time as you need, your honor) to consider Stewart's request for (a) a new trial and (b) a lenient sentence. We're guessing legal eagle Robert Morvillo made the request on some tasteful stationery, perhaps sealed with a homemade wax stamp--in any case, U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum was swayed, postponing Stewart's sentencing from July 8 to July 16. This is the second time Cedarbaum has delayed the proceedings; Stewart was initially slated to learn her fate on June 17. The ever gracious Morvillo suggested Cedarbaum may need the extra days to ponder written arguments his team will file next week requesting a new trial in the wake of a perjury charge against a key prosecution witness. Morvillo also noted that the defense will be submitting their own paperwork next week, asking the judge to hand down a cushier sentence than stipulated under federal guidelines. Morvillo's request comes a day after the prosecutors filed papers arguing against granting a new trial to Stewart and her broker, Peter Bacanovic. The duo say that because Secret Service ink expert Larry "No Relation to Martha" Stewart allegedly lied on the stand, they should get a do-over. Prosecutors, however, say that "there was overwhelming evidence of the defendants' guilt on the counts of conviction, and that evidence was wholly independent of Mr. Stewart's testimony." An earlier motion for a new trial--filed after it was learned that juror Chappell Hartridge had been less than truthful about his criminal past on a jury questionnaire--was rejected by Cedarbaum. Martha Stewart and Bacanovic were found guilty in March of conspiring to obstruct the government's investigation of her sale of her ImClone shares. She's widely expected to receive between 10 and 15 months in the slammer when she is eventually sentenced, but she has been jockeying to get that time cropped. In a recent effort, she offered to showcase her tried-and-true cleaning talents at a New York-based nonprofit in exchange for a reduced sentence. While Martha cools her heels in Connecticut while awaiting judgment, die-hard fans can bone up on their Good Things. Reruns of her syndicated Martha Stewart Living show will begin airing exclusively on the Style Network. Although production on the show has been suspended pending her sentence, there are 11 seasons' worth of episodes in the can. Style (which is a division of E! Networks, the parent of E! Online) is planning a "Martha Marathon," airing eight hours of Martha Stewart Living from 12-8 p.m. on July 4. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
