Defense arguments continue today in Edwards trial

Natalie Gott

Thursday, April 20, 2000 | 10:02 a.m.

BATON ROUGE, La. - Federal prosecutors put "bits and pieces" of evidence together to create a federal racketeering case built on fantasy against Edwin Edwards and his six co-defendants, the former governor's attorney said during closing arguments.

"The government wants you to believe that Edwin Edwards is the big, bad wolf and the government witnesses are lambs," attorney Dan Small said Wednesday. "This is not a fairy tale."

Attorney Jim Cole, who represents Edwards' son and co-defendant, Stephen, will finish up closing statements for the defense today. Prosecutors will get two more hours to rebut the defense arguments before jurors are sent home for a three-day Easter weekend.

Deliberations are not expected to begin until Monday afternoon.

On trial for the third time in his life, Edwards listened calmly but attentively Wednesday as his lawyer told a jury that federal prosecutors built a racketeering case against him on half-truths and lies.

"We do not in this country convict someone on gossip, innuendo and lies," Small said.

Edwards faces 27 counts that could net him a 350-year prison sentence. At age 72, conviction on even a few charges could mean the rest of his life in prison.

"We ask you to put an end to this nightmare and find Edwin Edwards not guilty on all charges," Small told the jury.

Witnesses' lack of credibility was the recurring theme throughout the defense team's closing statements.

Former Treasure Chest casino owner Robert Guidry came under attack from Sonny Garcia, attorney for former Edwards aide Andrew Martin. Guidry had testified that he delivered about $1.5 million to Edwin and Stephen Edwards and to Martin, the result of an extortion deal sealed with Edwards during a meeting at a Baton Rouge hotel.

"He lied and lied and lied and lied in an effort to keep his financial empire that the government was taking away," Garcia said.

Guidry owns a tugboat business that the defense says is worth $300 million.

Patrick Fanning, attorney for Edwards' friend Bobby Johnson, made his argument with Johnson out of the room. Johnson is still recovering from quintuple bypass surgery performed March 28.

Fanning concentrated on testimony by Mark Bradley, former executive for the Jazz casino corporation. Bradley said Johnson repeatedly solicited money from him in return for helping Jazz win a casino license.

"The whole Jazz case is a crock," Fanning said. He said Bradley is not to be believed, citing Bradley's admission that he once, in a media interview, accused the City of Baton Rouge of extortion and later had to backed off the charge.

Fanning also lashed out at the government, saying Johnson's indictment was the result of the federal government's "30-year hunt for Edwin Edwards."

"This is a shootout between the government and Edwin Edwards and my guy's in the middle," Fanning said.

Rebecca Hudsmith, lawyer for Edwards' friend Cecil Brown, likewise said her client had nothing to do with the Jazz scheme and had talked to Bradley only twice. Likewise, she said, Brown never tried to extort money from a group of Illinois businessmen who testified against him.

The attorneys for state Sen. Greg Tarver and for gambling board member Ecotry Fuller attacked federal prosecutors, whom they called arrogant and indifferent.

"I say that the government's greed and overreach are the reason why Sen. Tarver and Ecotry Fuller are here," Tarver's attorney, Mary Olive Pierson said.

"This is a clear example of the government overreaching and overexuberance," Fuller's attorney, Craig Smith, said in agreement.

Both attorneys said there was no evidence to indicate that Fuller or Tarver conspired with anyone. Fuller had never met Edwards before the day he came to the courthouse to enter an innocent plea in the case, Smith said.

Edwards' wife, Candy, a constant presence in the courtroom throughout the trial, was on hand for Small's argument but was absent from the courtroom Wednesday afternoon. Relatives said it was because the Edwards' dog, Caesar, had been hit by a car during the lunch break. The dog survived the accident and was being cared for by a local veterinarian.