Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005 | 9:16 a.m.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Lawyers in the Lincoln Park bribery conspiracy trial said during opening statements Monday that the case hinged on whether jurors believe gambling executives intended to pay a bribe or a bonus to the law firm of former House Speaker John Harwood.
On the first day of the trial for former Lincoln Park chief executive Daniel Bucci and Nigel Potter, who was a top executive with the park's London-based parent company Wembley PLC, a federal prosecutor said he would prove the men concocted a $4 million bribery scheme in a bid to expand the gambling facility and dog track.
"The motive? Money," Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Moore said.
Defense lawyers argued that nothing illegal took place. In fact, they said, the proposed payments to the McKinnon & Harwood law firm were never made.
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