Associated Press
WASHINGTON ó One minute Roger Clemens was on trial for his freedom. Then, on just the second day of testimony, it was suddenly all over and the former baseball star was outside signing autographs for fans.
Almost as soon as it began, Clemensí perjury trial ended Thursday ó in a mistrial the judge blamed on prosecutors and said a ěfirst-year law studentî would have known to avoid.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton left the question of a new trial up in the air. But he called a halt to the trial under way after prosecutors showed jurors evidence that he had ruled out ó videotaped revelations that a teammate had said heíd told his wife Clemens confessed to using a drug.
Walton scolded prosecutors and said he couldnít let the former All-Star pitcher face prison if convicted on such ěextremely prejudicialî evidence.
ěMr. Clemens has to get a fair trial,î Walton said. ěIn my view, he canít get it now.î
Defense attorney Rusty Hardin, who had asked for the mistrial declaration, patted an unsmiling Clemens on the back as the judge announced his decision. As he left the courthouse, Clemens did not comment but accepted hugs from a couple of court workers, shook hands with the security guards and autographed baseballs for fans waiting outside.
The quick end on only the second day of testimony was the second mistrial involving a former star player accused in baseballís steroids scandal. Home run king Barry Bonds was convicted three months ago of obstruction of justice, but a mistrial was called on three more serious false-statements charges after jurors couldnít agree on a verdict.
Walton said he would hold a hearing Sept. 2 to decide whether Clemens should face another trial. Hardin told reporters, ěI wouldnít even hazard a guessî about what Walton will decide.
Walton could end the prosecution by declaring that a new trial would run afoul of double jeopardy ó the right not to be brought to trial twice on the same charges for the same offense. But experts said it was unlikely that he would go that far, especially since the trial was just under way.
ěGenerally speaking, mistrial does not bar a trial of the defendant when the defendant requested the mistrial,î said Harry Sandick, a former prosecutor who now defends white-collar cases. He said a judge may make an exception for misconduct on the part of prosecutors, but this appears to have been a simple yet devastating mistake.
ěHow could the government not have reviewed each piece of evidence after the courtís pretrial rulings?î he said. ěThis is crucially important, and prosecutors have to do this all the time.î