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Martha Stewart Dealt Legal Blow

Aired November 18, 2003 - 15:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: A federal judge dealt a blow to Martha Stewart's defense team today. And that ruling means the style maven will be returning to federal court in New York.
Our Mary Snow is there now with the very latest -- hi, Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Heidi.

And, as you can see behind me, the cameras parked outside of federal court here in Lower Manhattan waiting for Martha Stewart to come out of court. She's expected to leave shortly. She came here today to have two of the five charges against her dropped. But the judge in this case has denied that request by her attorney, saying that it was important for a jury to hear all the evidence in this case.

The two charges were securities fraud and obstruction of justice. Lawyers came here today to present oral arguments. The judge in this case, Miriam Cedarbaum was very matter of fact, saying that she had the briefs. She said, in her words, they were excellent. There were no need for these arguments. And the she came out with her ruling.

Also, she ruled that Stewart's former stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, will not have a separate trial. His attorneys tried to have both people tried separately, Bacanovic's saying that Stewart's notoriety would hurt his case. But the judge has decided that they will be tried together. Now, these two charges, securities fraud and obstruction of justice, are part of five counts against her. She is scheduled to go on trial January 12 -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, Mary Snow, thanks so much for the update on that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 18, 2003 - 15:21   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: A federal judge dealt a blow to Martha Stewart's defense team today. And that ruling means the style maven will be returning to federal court in New York.
Our Mary Snow is there now with the very latest -- hi, Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Heidi.

And, as you can see behind me, the cameras parked outside of federal court here in Lower Manhattan waiting for Martha Stewart to come out of court. She's expected to leave shortly. She came here today to have two of the five charges against her dropped. But the judge in this case has denied that request by her attorney, saying that it was important for a jury to hear all the evidence in this case.

The two charges were securities fraud and obstruction of justice. Lawyers came here today to present oral arguments. The judge in this case, Miriam Cedarbaum was very matter of fact, saying that she had the briefs. She said, in her words, they were excellent. There were no need for these arguments. And the she came out with her ruling.

Also, she ruled that Stewart's former stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, will not have a separate trial. His attorneys tried to have both people tried separately, Bacanovic's saying that Stewart's notoriety would hurt his case. But the judge has decided that they will be tried together. Now, these two charges, securities fraud and obstruction of justice, are part of five counts against her. She is scheduled to go on trial January 12 -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, Mary Snow, thanks so much for the update on that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com