Home > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDefense attacks witnesses’ credibility
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Defense attorneys attacked the credibility of two of the government’s key witnesses Tuesday with two witnesses of their own.
First, they called Decatur computer contractor Samuel Barber, who contradicted government witness Dan DeBardelaben, who told jurors last week that he followed Barber’s orders to pass thousands of dollars in bribes from Barber to the mayor. Barber later landed a $3 million contract with the city.
Barber testified Tuesday that he never intended to bribe the mayor. He said he simply repaid money owed to DeBardelaben, one of his subcontractors, and it was DeBardelaben’s idea to pass that money to the mayor.
Barber said he doesn’t know if Campbell ever received the money.
The defense also called former Atlanta City Councilman Derrick Boazman to the stand to counter previous claims by key government witness Dewey Clark, a former aide to Campbell.
Clark, who used to live in the mayor’s basement apartment in Inman Park, testified earlier in the trial that he either witnessed or directly passed thousands of dollars in bribes from city contractors to the mayor.
Clark claimed the mayor accepted about $50,000 in bribes from strip club owner Michael Childs, who was struggling to get a renewed liquor license for Club Nikki V.I.P. and to open a new club, Strawberries.
But Campbell eventually blocked the the liquor licenses for both of Child’s clubs after Boazman, an avid Campbell supporter, threatened to vote against the mayor on city issues, Clark testified.
“That would be foolish,� Boazman testified. “The mayor has control of the budget.�
Boazman said he, his constituents and the mayor opposed the strip clubs for other reasons like fatal shootings and allegations of child prostitution.
Boazman said Cambpell has always been “honorable and above board.�
Permalink | | Categories: Bill Campbell trial
