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Updated March 31, 2004, 6:19 p.m. ET

Martha Stewart's lawyers ask for retrial, juror lied about past arrest
Stewart's lawyers filed papers Wednesday saying she is entitled to a new trial given the latest findings about a juror's past.

NEW YORK (AP) — Martha Stewart asked on Wednesday for a new trial, saying one of the jurors who convicted her lied about a past arrest on assault charges.

Stewart lawyer Robert Morvillo said in papers filed in Manhattan federal court that he would have sought to strike juror Chappell Hartridge had he known about the prior incidents.

"These facts, in and of themselves, establish that Ms. Stewart is entitled to a new trial," Morvillo wrote.

The papers also accused Hartridge of seeking money for post-trial interviews. On the day of the guilty verdict, the juror said publicly he believed the decision was "a victory for the little guys."


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Stewart was convicted March 5 of lying to federal investigators about her sale of 3,298 shares of ImClone Systems stock on Dec. 27, 2001, just before it plunged on a negative government report.

Juror Chappell Hartridge held back key information about his own troubles with the law.

She is to be sentenced June 17. Legal experts believe she will receive a sentence of 10 to 16 months in prison for the four guilty counts — obstructing justice, conspiracy and two counts of making false statements.

Federal prosecutors did not immediately return a call for comment on the new Stewart filing. Hartridge could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Stewart filing said Hartridge was arrested in 1997 after a woman with whom he was living filed an assault complaint. The filing said Hartridge spent several days in jail before the woman withdrew her complaint because she could not miss work to attend court.

The filing also said Hartridge lied on his jury questionnaire by omitting the fact that he has been sued at least three times. It said he also lied by not disclosing that he was once accused of stealing from a Little League group.

 


Full coverage:
Martha Stewart Stock Scandal




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