SB Nation Houston - Judge Declares A Mistrial In Roger Clemens' Casehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2011-07-14T19:18:17-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/20395982011-07-14T19:18:17-05:002011-07-14T19:18:17-05:00Judge rules mistrial in Clemens' case
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<p>You were gone before we knew ye, <span>Roger Clemens</span> trial. Thursday, shortly after the prosecution opened it arguments, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton declared a mistrial, saying that a “first-year law student would have known to avoid” this particular mistake.</p>
<p>At question, again was video tape prosecutors played for the jury with Clemens’ testimony from the 2008 Congressional inquiry. The tape was supposed to be a powerful reinforcement for the jury, but in the course of the viewing, one of the congressmen questioning Clemens brought up <span>Andy Pettitte</span>’s comments to his wife about Rocket’s steroids use.</p>
<p>Walton left both sides with strict instructions before the trial that this kind of evidence from former teammates would be inadmissable. Since the jury saw it on a videotape, there was no way to un-prejudice them to the evidence and Walton had to throw the entire trial out. He did not state whether there could be another trial in the future for Clemens, who may run into the double jeopardy protection. Walton will decide on the retrial in a hearing held on September 2.</p>
<p>For now, it looks like Clemens may escape a jail sentence because of Andy Pettitte. After everything that’s come out between those two, could there be a more surprising end to this debacle?</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/7/14/2276426/judge-rules-mistrial-in-clemens-case-roger-clemens-reggie-waltonDavid Coleman2011-07-14T10:34:26-05:002011-07-14T10:34:26-05:00Roger Clemens Trial: Hardin May Get A Mistrial
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<p>The Roger Clemens perjury trial was not looking good for Rocket up until today. There was a mostly female jury seated for the trial, which probably wasn't going to be favorable for Clemens. He was maybe going to have to defend himself without actually testifying. But, <a href="http://blog.chron.com/clemens/2011/07/prosecutor-scolded-might-lose-key-testimony/">a development early in the prosecution's presentation Thursday may have swung things in the opposite direction.</a></p>
<p>U.S. Assistant Attorney Steve Durham showed the jury a video of Clemens' testimony that got him in trouble. In the video, one of the congressional questioners brings up <span>Andy Pettitte</span>, after the judge in the case specifically ruled that was going to be out of bounds for this trial. </p>
<p>Clemens attorney Rusty Hardin immediately ruled for a mistrial based on the jury seeing that evidence against the judge's rules. It also sounds like he might get it, <a href="http://blog.chron.com/clemens/2011/07/hardin-moves-for-mistrial-in-clemens-case/">as the Clemens camp thinks that the Pettitte testimony</a> will be critical to sending Rocket to prison.</p>
<p>If this happens, it'll be a huge win for Clemens. He was basically painted into a corner and may be saved by a technicality. Stay tuned for more developments as the day goes along.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2011/7/14/2337903/roger-clemens-trial-hardin-may-get-a-mistrialDavid Coleman