Manuel trial delay granted

Manuel trial delay granted

Judge postpones it until April 6

From staff
Publication Date: 12/12/08


U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard on Thursday ordered that former St. Johns County Commissioner Tom Manuel's federal bribery trial will be postponed until April 6.

Howard had previously turned down an earlier motion by Manuel's lawyers, William Sheppard and D. Gray Thomas of Jacksonville, to delay the trial for six months.

The two attorneys refiled the motion Wednesday, and it was approved Thursday morning.

Manuel is accused of accepting $60,000 in cash from two undercover informants during an 18-month investigation by the FBI.

In the course of that investigation, the FBI made more than 42 video or audio recordings of Manuel. Manuel's attorneys argued that the sheer number of recordings and other evidence made it impossible to be ready for trial on Jan. 6.

The judge agreed, saying, "This case is stricken from the January 2009 calendar."


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