The only question now is who will play him in the TV movie.
Paul Bergrin, a hotshot criminal defense lawyer — who has represented street criminals, Abu Ghraib soldiers and blingy rappers — yesterday wrangled a mistrial for his biggest client ever: himself.
He has been charged with masterminding the murder of an FBI informant who prosecutors alleged could have implicated Bergrin and a legal client in a drug trafficking scheme.
But on their sixth day of deliberations, jurors in a Newark, N.J., courtroom said they were deadlocked on whether to convict Bergrin, 55, on charges of murdering a witness and conspiracy to murder a witness. So U.S. District Judge William J. Martini declared the mistrial.
“While it is disappointing the jury was unable to reach a verdict, we are fully prepared for the next trial,” U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.
Prosecutors alleged that Bergrin arranged for Kemo McCray to be shot to death in Newark in March 2004. A federal indictment said a client of Bergrin’s, William Baskerville, was arrested after selling cocaine to McCray and then deduced that McCray was cooperating with law enforcement.
Anthony Young, the man who admitted shooting McCray, said during the trial that Bergrin had told a group of people involved in the drug trafficking enterprise that Baskerville could only beat the charges if McCray were rubbed out.
“No Kemo, no case,” Young testified that Bergrin told them.
Bergrin said in his own defense that he was being set up by a group of criminals who wanted to get lenient sentences for their own crimes by cooperating with prosecutors.
A new trial date has been set for Jan. 4.
Bergrin is known for his tenacious defense of rappers like Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim. He has also defended street criminals and soldiers — like Army Sgt. Javal Davis, who was convicted of abuses at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison.
Ashley.Kindergan@thedaily.com
Paul Bergrin, a hotshot criminal defense lawyer — who has represented street criminals, Abu Ghraib soldiers and blingy rappers — yesterday wrangled a mistrial for his biggest client ever: himself.
He has been charged with masterminding the murder of an FBI informant who prosecutors alleged could have implicated Bergrin and a legal client in a drug trafficking scheme.
But on their sixth day of deliberations, jurors in a Newark, N.J., courtroom said they were deadlocked on whether to convict Bergrin, 55, on charges of murdering a witness and conspiracy to murder a witness. So U.S. District Judge William J. Martini declared the mistrial.
“While it is disappointing the jury was unable to reach a verdict, we are fully prepared for the next trial,” U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.
Prosecutors alleged that Bergrin arranged for Kemo McCray to be shot to death in Newark in March 2004. A federal indictment said a client of Bergrin’s, William Baskerville, was arrested after selling cocaine to McCray and then deduced that McCray was cooperating with law enforcement.
Anthony Young, the man who admitted shooting McCray, said during the trial that Bergrin had told a group of people involved in the drug trafficking enterprise that Baskerville could only beat the charges if McCray were rubbed out.
“No Kemo, no case,” Young testified that Bergrin told them.
Bergrin said in his own defense that he was being set up by a group of criminals who wanted to get lenient sentences for their own crimes by cooperating with prosecutors.
A new trial date has been set for Jan. 4.
Bergrin is known for his tenacious defense of rappers like Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim. He has also defended street criminals and soldiers — like Army Sgt. Javal Davis, who was convicted of abuses at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison.
Ashley.Kindergan@thedaily.com
