Bonds Trial Likely To Start Next Year
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) _ Former Giants slugger Barry Bonds will not go to trial for federal charges related to steroid use until next March at the earliest.
Bonds was still playing baseball when he denied using steroids to a federal grand jury.
That testimony led to charges in December of 2003 of obstruction of justice and perjury.
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And now, seven years later, there still hasn't been a trial or even a firm trial date set in the case.
Bonds' attorney Allen Ruby said he's still confident after the latest hearing on Friday.
"The alleged offense took place in December of 2003 and we're now going to have a trial in 2011," said Ruby. "And I think that sort of speaks for itself about much of this case. What we believe is an ill-advised prosecution of someone who never should have been charged."
Last month, the U.S. Attorney suffered a setback when some key prosecution evidence was deemed inadmissible by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Prosecutors did not comment on Friday's hearing.
