Post by Master-9 on Jan 31, 2004 12:22:27 GMT -5
York Asks For New Trial
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1/30/2004 8:46:25 PM
Malakai York, Nuwaubian
Friday, Nuwaubian leader Malachi York took his first step toward appealing his conviction. A federal jury convicted York of ten counts of child sex and racketeering acts last week. York's attorney Adrian Patrick filed a motion for a new trial in federal court in Athens on Friday.
In the motion, Patrick says the judge was biased. He says the judge prompted U.S. Prosecutors to prevent evidence, then didn't allow the defense to present certain evidence supporting its theory in the case.
Patrick says the Grand Jury, who indicted York on 13 counts, should not have been chosen from Central Georgia. The judge moved the trial to Brunswick because of pre-trial publicity. Patrick says the Grand Jury should have come from another area as well as the trial jury.
Finally, he says the government violated criminal procedure when it introduced new evidence after resting its case.
Friday, U.S. Prosecutors also filed an order in federal court. The order is their first step to force Malachi York to forfeit his share of the Nuwaubian land in Putnam County and in Athens.