Three former Auburn teammates on list of potential witnesses in Varez Ward point-shaving case
By Mike Cason |
on October 17, 2013 at 6:00 PM
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Varez Ward leaving the federal courthouse in Montgomery after a hearing in June. (Dave Martin/Associated Press)
MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- Two former Auburn University basketball players and one current player are on a list of potential court witnesses mentioned in a document filed by lawyers for Varez Ward, the former Auburn player who is accused of point-shaving.
Ward has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled for trial Nov. 4 in U.S. District Court in Montgomery.
Ward’s lawyers, Everett Wess and Robert Beeman, filed with the court a list of questions for potential jurors in the case. One of the questions is whether the potential jurors know any of a list of witnesses. The list includes current Auburn player Chris Denson and former players Kenny Gabriel and Frankie Sullivan. All three were teammates of Ward.
The list also includes Auburn head basketball coach Tony Barbee and Athletic Director Jay Jacobs.
Wess said he did not know if those on the list will actually testify but was trying to anticipate the prosecution's witnesses.
"I'm just trying to list any potential witnesses that might be called during the trial," Wess said. "Those numbers could be increased or decreased as we get closer to trial." Assistant U.S. Attorney Clark Morris, spokeswoman for the prosecutors’ office, said their normal practice is to file a witness list the day of the trial.
In an indictment filed on May 30, Ward was charged with conspiracy to defraud and with bribery in sporting contests.
Prosecutors allege that Ward took part in a scheme to fix Auburn’s game against Arkansas on Jan. 25, 2012.
The jury trial is expected to last three days.
on October 17, 2013 at 6:00 PM
<tbody> </tbody> |
<tbody>
</tbody>
MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- Two former Auburn University basketball players and one current player are on a list of potential court witnesses mentioned in a document filed by lawyers for Varez Ward, the former Auburn player who is accused of point-shaving.
Ward has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled for trial Nov. 4 in U.S. District Court in Montgomery.
Ward’s lawyers, Everett Wess and Robert Beeman, filed with the court a list of questions for potential jurors in the case. One of the questions is whether the potential jurors know any of a list of witnesses. The list includes current Auburn player Chris Denson and former players Kenny Gabriel and Frankie Sullivan. All three were teammates of Ward.
The list also includes Auburn head basketball coach Tony Barbee and Athletic Director Jay Jacobs.
Wess said he did not know if those on the list will actually testify but was trying to anticipate the prosecution's witnesses.
"I'm just trying to list any potential witnesses that might be called during the trial," Wess said. "Those numbers could be increased or decreased as we get closer to trial." Assistant U.S. Attorney Clark Morris, spokeswoman for the prosecutors’ office, said their normal practice is to file a witness list the day of the trial.
In an indictment filed on May 30, Ward was charged with conspiracy to defraud and with bribery in sporting contests.
Prosecutors allege that Ward took part in a scheme to fix Auburn’s game against Arkansas on Jan. 25, 2012.
The jury trial is expected to last three days.
